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Meaning & use

test patience

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌtest ˈpeɪ.ʃəns/
US/ˌtest ˈpeɪ.ʃəns/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiom

    To make someone feel annoyed or impatient, especially by being slow, difficult, or repeated.

    Grammar: Used as 'test someone's patience' or 'test the patience of someone'; the person who feels impatient comes after 'test'.

    Patterns

    • test someone's patience
    • test the patience of someone
    • test my/his/her patience

    The endless delays at the airport really tested my patience.

    Her constant questions were starting to test the teacher's patience.

    Waiting for the bus in the rain tested everyone's patience.

  2. phraseidiom

    To be a severe challenge to someone's ability to stay calm over a long period.

    Grammar: Often used with 'really', 'severely', or 'to the limit' to show how great the challenge is.

    Patterns

    • test someone's patience to the limit
    • severely test someone's patience
    • test the patience of a saint

    Caring for a sick relative for months tested his patience to the limit.

    The slow repair process tested the patience of a saint.

Common combinations

test someone's patience
The children's arguing tested their mother's patience.
test the patience of a saint
This traffic would test the patience of a saint.
really test someone's patience
His excuses really tested my patience.
test someone's patience to the limit
The repeated mistakes tested her patience to the limit.

Synonyms and how they differ

try someone's patience
Very close in meaning and often used in the same way; 'try' can sound slightly more literary.
annoy
A direct verb meaning to make someone a little angry; it does not suggest a slow build-up of impatience.
irritate
Similar to 'annoy' but often stronger and more about a repeated unpleasant effect.

Opposites

pleasecalm

Word family

patience noun
The ability to wait or accept trouble without getting angry.
patient adjective
Able to wait or deal with problems calmly.
patiently adverb
In a calm way that shows you can wait.
impatient adjective
Easily annoyed by waiting or by other people's slowness.

Commonly confused: test patience or patients?

test patience vs patients

'Patience' means the ability to wait calmly; 'patients' are people receiving medical care. They sound the same but are spelled differently.

Practice

The noisy neighbors were beginning to test ______.

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