tolerate
gb/tˈɑlɚˌeɪt/ us/tˈɑlɚˌeɪt/
B2
Anglais
~ 5100
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
B2
action
1
endure something unpleasant
To accept or allow behavior, a situation, or an opinion that you find annoying or unpleasant, without trying to stop it.
Schéma d’usage :
to tolerate [someone/something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners often confuse 'tolerate' with 'accept'. 'Tolerate' means you dislike something but allow it to continue (e.g., 'I tolerate the noise'). 'Accept' is more neutral or positive, meaning you agree to it or have come to terms with it (e.g., 'I accept your apology').
Synonymes
put up with (More informal than 'tolerate'. Often used in everyday conversation.)
|
endure (Suggests suffering through something more difficult or for a longer period of time.)
|
stand (Very common and informal, especially in the negative ('can't stand') to express strong dislike.)
|
accept ('Accept' can be neutral or positive, implying agreement or resignation. 'Tolerate' always implies that you dislike the thing you are allowing.)
Antonymes
forbid (To officially order someone not to do something; a direct and authoritative opposite.)
|
reject (To actively refuse to accept or consider something.)
|
oppose (To actively disagree with and try to prevent something.)
Collocations
tolerate noise
|tolerate disrespect
|tolerate bad behavior
|tolerate criticism
|cannot tolerate
|refuse to tolerate
Thèmes
emotions
|social
|behavior
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- I will not tolerate that kind of language in my house.
- The school has a strict policy and does not tolerate bullying.
- For years, the community tolerated the factory's pollution, but now they are protesting.
- How can you tolerate his constant complaining?
Exemples pédagogiques
- My boss will not tolerate employees being late.
- I can tolerate the loud music for a little while, but not all night.
- She had to tolerate her roommate's messy habits.
- The teacher told the class, "I will not tolerate cheating."
Verbe
B2
action
2
physically withstand something
To be able to eat, drink, or be exposed to something (like a food, medicine, or type of weather) without getting sick or having a bad physical reaction.
Schéma d’usage :
to tolerate [a substance/condition]
Synonymes
withstand (Emphasizes strength and resistance against a powerful force (e.g., withstand a storm, withstand pressure).)
|
endure (Often implies surviving a difficult or painful experience over time.)
|
handle (More informal and general; can apply to physical or emotional stress (e.g., 'can't handle spicy food').)
Antonymes
react to (To have an adverse or noticeable physical reaction to a substance.)
|
be allergic to (A specific medical term for having a negative immune system reaction to something.)
Collocations
tolerate dairy
|tolerate medication
|tolerate heat
|tolerate gluten
|tolerate pain
Thèmes
health
|biology
|science
|food
Exemples
- Some patients cannot tolerate the side effects of the new drug.
- These desert plants can tolerate extreme heat and long periods of drought.
- As he got older, he found he could no longer tolerate spicy food.
- The bridge was engineered to tolerate high winds and earthquakes.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My stomach can't tolerate milk.
- This plant can tolerate very cold weather.
- The doctor gave me a medicine that my body can tolerate well.
- Some people cannot tolerate peanuts.
Verbe
formal
C1
action
3
allow different beliefs or opinions
In a society or group, to allow people to have different opinions, beliefs, or ways of life, even if you don't agree with them.
Schéma d’usage :
to tolerate [a belief/practice/group]
Erreur fréquente :
This formal meaning can be confused with the more common, negative one. While both involve allowing something you don't agree with, this sense is often used to describe a virtue (e.g., of a person or society), whereas the first sense is about enduring an annoyance.
Synonymes
permit (Implies giving official consent or authorization.)
|
allow (A more general term for not preventing something from happening.)
|
respect ('Respect' implies a positive regard or admiration, whereas 'tolerate' is more neutral and simply means to allow existence without interference.)
Antonymes
persecute (To treat a group of people cruelly or unfairly, especially because of their beliefs.)
|
suppress (To forcibly put an end to something, like an opinion or a movement.)
|
condemn (To express complete and public disapproval of something.)
Collocations
tolerate dissent
|tolerate different views
|tolerate ambiguity
|tolerate diversity
|tolerate other religions
Thèmes
politics
|society
|religion
|philosophy
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- A free and democratic society must be willing to tolerate dissent.
- The ancient empire was known for tolerating a wide variety of religious practices among its subjects.
- Learning to tolerate ambiguity is a key part of intellectual maturity.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Good governments tolerate different political opinions.
- It is important to tolerate people who have different beliefs.
- Our debate club tolerates all points of view during discussions.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
tolerate
API
GB/tˈɑlɚˌeɪt/
US/tˈɑlɚˌeɪt/
Syllabes et accentuation
tol - er - ate (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (tol)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: tolerate
- 3rd Person Singular: tolerates
- Present Participle: tolerating
- Past: tolerated
Famille de mots
Forms
tolerates
verb
tolerating
verb
tolerated
verb
Related words
tolerantly
adverb
tolerably
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
toleration
noun C1
Expressions
Aucune expression n’est encore associée à cette entrée.