patience
Patience (noun) means the ability to wait calmly or endure difficulty without becoming frustrated. Example: “Teaching young children requires a lot of patience.”
How to Use Patience
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCalm endurance while waiting or dealing with difficulty, or, in Britain, the card game Americans call solitaire.
In British English "patience" is the usual name for the solo card game; American English calls it "solitaire."
Word Forms
patiences plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Teaching young children requires a lot of _____.
Etymology
From Latin patientia, "endurance," from patior, "to suffer or endure."
Related Words
Rhymes for patience
See all rhymes for patience →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “patience” mean?
The word “patience” means the ability to wait calmly or endure difficulty without becoming frustrated. In plain terms, calm endurance while waiting or dealing with difficulty, or, in Britain, the card game Americans call solitaire.
How do you pronounce “patience”?
“Patience” is pronounced PAY-shuhns (/ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/ in IPA).
How do you use “patience” in a sentence?
Here is “patience” used in a sentence: “Teaching young children requires a lot of patience.”
What part of speech is “patience”?
“Patience” is a noun.
Where does the word “patience” come from?
The word “patience” comes from Latin. From Latin patientia, "endurance," from patior, "to suffer or endure.".
Is “patience” a common word?
“Patience” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “patience” have?
“Patience” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ability to wait calmly or endure difficulty without becoming frustrated.
What is the difference between "patience" and "patients"?
They sound identical but differ in meaning and spelling. "Patience" (ending in -ce) is the ability to wait calmly without frustration. "Patients" (ending in -ts) is the plural of "patient," meaning people receiving medical care.
What is the difference between "patience" and "perseverance"?
"Patience" is staying calm while waiting or enduring difficulty. "Perseverance" is continuing to try despite obstacles. You need patience to wait for a result and perseverance to keep working toward it.
Do you say "have patience" or "be patient"?
Both are correct. "Patience" is a noun, so you "have patience" or "show patience," while "patient" is the adjective, so you "are patient." They express the same idea using different word forms.
Why is the card game called "patience"?
In British English, the single-player card game of arranging cards in a set order is called "patience," while American English usually calls it "solitaire." The name reflects the calm, methodical waiting the game involves.
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