tolerate meaning and definition

TOLERATE verb

Definition of tolerate (verb)

1. put up with something or somebody unpleasant
   • "I cannot bear his constant criticism"; "The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks"; "he learned to tolerate the heat"; "She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage"
   • synonyms: abide, bear, brook, digest, endure, put up, stand, stick out, stomach, suffer, support
2. recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others)
   • "We must tolerate the religions of others"
3. have a tolerance for a poison or strong drug or pathogen or environmental condition
   • "The patient does not tolerate the anti-inflammatory drugs we gave him"
4. allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting
   • "We don't allow dogs here"; "Children are not permitted beyond this point"; "We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital"
   • synonyms: allow, permit