Patience: meaning, definitions and examples

Patience is most often used to describe the ability to wait calmly for something without getting angry or upset. It is a positive and highly regarded trait in both personal and professional settings.

• She showed great patience while waiting for her turn.
• You need a lot of patience to deal with young children.

Tolerance is the ability to accept or endure differences and viewpoints that one may disagree with. It is often used in social and cultural contexts.

• We need to promote tolerance and understanding among different communities.
• He showed great tolerance by listening to everyone's opinions.

Endurance refers to the ability to withstand hardship or stress over a long period. It is often used in physical or athletic contexts but can also refer to mental or emotional strength.

• His endurance during the marathon was impressive.
• She has the endurance to handle long working hours.

Perseverance denotes a continued effort to achieve a goal despite difficulties or delays. It carries a positive connotation of determination and grit.

• Her perseverance in finishing the project was commendable.
• Success often requires hard work and perseverance.

Forbearance describes the ability to control oneself and tolerate a difficult situation without reacting strongly. It can be used in legal or financial contexts to describe the act of refraining from enforcing a right.

• The lender showed forbearance by postponing the loan due date.
• He demonstrated remarkable forbearance during the heated argument.

Suitable when enduring difficult situations without getting angry or upset.

• It takes a lot of patience to raise children
• Waiting in long lines requires patience

Used when someone remains calm and maintains control in stressful or unexpected situations.

• Despite the chaos around her, she kept her composure
• He lost his composure during the heated argument

Refers to the ability to regulate one's emotions, behavior, and desires, especially in challenging situations.

• It requires self-control to stick to a diet
• He demonstrated great self-control by not responding to the provocation

Appropriate when referring to graceful and elegant bearing in a person, often under pressure or during public situations.

• She handled the stage with great poise
• His poise during the interview impressed everyone

In British English, 'patience' is often used to refer to a single-player card game, commonly known as 'solitaire' in American English. The term is also generally used to describe the ability to wait for a long period without becoming annoyed or upset.

• She had the patience to learn a difficult new skill
• He was playing a game of patience to pass the time

In American English, 'solitaire' is used to refer to any single-player card game. It can also refer to a single gem or diamond set alone in a piece of jewelry.

• She enjoys playing solitaire to relax after work
• His engagement ring features a solitaire diamond

This is a specific type of solitaire card game. It is perhaps the most well-known variation, frequently included as a default game on operating systems like Windows.

• I spent the afternoon playing Klondike on my computer
• Do you know how to play Klondike?