tolerate it

Meanings

1. 1phrasetransitive

   To accept something unpleasant or annoying without complaining or trying to change it.

   Grammar: Takes a direct object: tolerate it, tolerate the noise. The object 'it' refers to something already mentioned.

   Patterns

   • tolerate something
   • tolerate it

   I can't tolerate the way he speaks to me.

   She tolerated the pain for hours before seeing a doctor.

   The teacher won't tolerate bad behavior in class.

2. 2phrasetransitive

   To allow something to exist or happen without taking action to stop it.

   Grammar: Often used in negative sentences: cannot tolerate, will not tolerate. The object can be a noun or an -ing form.

   Patterns

   • tolerate something
   • tolerate doing something

   The company does not tolerate cheating.

   We cannot tolerate this level of pollution any longer.

   He tolerated her smoking in the house, though he hated it.

Common combinations

tolerate it

I know the noise is annoying, but you'll have to tolerate it.

cannot tolerate

She cannot tolerate the smell of cigarettes.

refuse to tolerate

The manager refused to tolerate any more lateness.

tolerate behavior

Schools do not tolerate violent behavior.

tolerate pain

He tolerated the pain until the medicine started working.

Synonyms and how they differ

put up with

More informal and often used in speech; it means the same but is a phrasal verb, so you say 'put up with it'.

bear

Stronger and more formal; often used for emotional or physical difficulty, as in 'I can't bear it'.

stand

Used in negative sentences for things you dislike, as in 'I can't stand it'; it is more emotional than 'tolerate'.

Opposites

Word family

tolerance noun

The ability to accept things you dislike or disagree with.

tolerant adjective

Willing to accept differences or things you dislike.

tolerable adjective

Able to be accepted or endured; not too bad.

tolerably adverb

To an acceptable degree; fairly.

Commonly confused: tolerate it or tolerate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tolerate it”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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