patient
PEHY-shuhnt
Patient (adj) means Able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or anxious. Example: “A patient teacher explained the maths problem again until everyone understood.”
adj
1
Able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or anxious.
"A patient teacher explained the maths problem again until everyone understood."
"Please be patient — the doctor will see you shortly."
"He remained patient despite the long delay."
noun
1
A person receiving medical care or treatment.
"The nurse checked on each patient before the end of her shift."
"As a new patient, you will need to fill in a short form."
"The patient was discharged from hospital after a week."
How to use patient
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither calmly willing to wait (adjective), or someone under medical care (noun).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
patient with someone
hospital patient
be patient
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like patient.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- patients
- Comparative
- more patient
- Superlative
- most patient
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ teacher explained the maths problem again until everyone understood.
Etymology
From Latin patiens, present participle of patior, "to suffer or endure" — the same root as "patience."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for patient
client
orient
ancient
salient
ambient
lenient
quotient
obedient
nutrient
gradient
sentient
ebullient
See all rhymes for patient →
Frequently asked questions
What does “patient” mean?
The word “patient” means able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or anxious. In plain terms, either calmly willing to wait (adjective), or someone under medical care (noun).
How do you pronounce “patient”?
“Patient” is pronounced PEHY-shuhnt (/ˈpeɪ̯ʃənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “patient” in a sentence?
Here is “patient” used in a sentence: “Please be patient — the doctor will see you shortly.”
What part of speech is “patient”?
Depending on how it is used, “patient” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “patient” come from?
The word “patient” comes from Latin. From Latin patiens, present participle of patior, "to suffer or endure" — the same root as "patience.".
Is “patient” a common word?
“Patient” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “patient” have?
“Patient” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed or anxious.
What is the difference between patient the adjective and patient the noun?
They share a spelling but not a meaning. As an adjective, 'patient' describes someone able to wait calmly without becoming annoyed, as in 'be patient.' As a noun, 'a patient' is a person receiving medical care. Context makes clear which is meant, since one describes a quality and the other names a person.
Can patience be learned?
Yes. Patience is widely regarded as a skill rather than a fixed trait. Techniques such as pausing before reacting, breathing slowly, reframing delays, and practising in small everyday situations all help build it over time. Like a muscle, patience tends to grow stronger the more deliberately you exercise it.
What is the opposite of patient?
The opposite is 'impatient,' meaning quickly irritated by waiting or delay. Related opposites include restless, hasty, and intolerant. Where a patient person stays calm and composed, an impatient one becomes frustrated or eager to rush ahead before the right moment has actually arrived.
What is the difference between patient and tolerant?
Patience is mainly about staying calm while waiting or enduring delay. Tolerance is about accepting people, views, or situations you may dislike or disagree with. The two often go together, since a tolerant person is frequently patient too, but one concerns time and the other concerns acceptance.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include patient:
