suffering

The word “suffering” means pain or distress, whether physical or emotional. In plain terms, the state of being in pain or hardship.

“Suffering” is pronounced SUH-fuh-rihng (/ˈsʌfəɹɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “suffering” used in a sentence: “The famine caused widespread suffering across the region.”

Depending on how it is used, “suffering” can be a noun and an adjective.

“Suffering” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Suffering” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: pain or distress, whether physical or emotional.

Pain is the raw sensation, physical or emotional, while suffering is the deeper distress that comes from enduring it. You can feel brief pain without lasting suffering, and suffering can continue as anguish even after the original pain fades. Suffering carries a heavier sense of ongoing hardship and emotional weight.

Suffering is often divided into physical and emotional forms. Physical suffering includes illness, injury, and bodily pain, while emotional suffering covers grief, loneliness, fear, and mental anguish. Many people experience both at once, since serious illness or loss can wound the body and the mind together.

The opposite of suffering is a state of comfort, ease, or well-being, where pain and distress are absent. Words like relief, contentment, and joy capture this. In many philosophies, easing suffering, whether one's own or others', is seen as a central goal of a good and compassionate life.

Suffering arises from illness, injury, loss, fear, and unmet needs, and it serves partly as a signal that something is wrong and needs attention. While it is painful, it can also foster empathy, resilience, and growth. Philosophies and religions have long grappled with why suffering exists and how to ease it.