patience
PAY-shuhns
Patience (noun) means the ability to wait calmly or endure difficulty without becoming frustrated. Example: “Learning to play the violin takes time, practice and a great deal of patience.”
noun
1
The ability to wait calmly or endure difficulty without becoming frustrated.
"Learning to play the violin takes time, practice and a great deal of patience."
"Teaching young children requires a lot of patience."
"She waited with patience for the results to arrive."
2
A card game played by one person, arranging cards in a set order (also called solitaire).
"My grandmother taught me how to play patience with an old deck."
"I laid out the cards for a quiet game of patience."
"He passed the evening playing patience at the kitchen table."
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.
UK vs US
In British English "patience" is the usual name for the solo card game; American English calls it "solitaire."
Common pairings
run out of patience
have patience
play patience
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Word forms
- Plural
- patiences
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Learning to play the violin takes time, practice and a great deal of _____.
Etymology
From Latin patientia, "endurance," from patior, "to suffer or endure."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
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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