Cool MateAccept vs Tolerate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accept
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Tolerate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Accept
| Accept | Tolerate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əkˈsept/","/əkˈsepts/","/əkˈseptɪd/","/əkˈseptɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɒləreɪt/","/ˈtɒləreɪts/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɑːləreɪt/","/ˈtɑːləreɪts/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. | To accept something unpleasant without complaining. |
| Example | I am happy to accept your invitation to the party. | I can tolerate cold weather, but I prefer warmer climates. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, eagerly, gladly, graciously, be glad to, be happy to, be reluctant to, from, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted, happily, readily, fully, be happy to, be prepared to, be ready to, be commonly accepted, be generally accepted, be universally accepted | barely, just, merely, be unable to, cannot, not be prepared to, barely, just, merely, be unable to, cannot, not be prepared to, readily, well, poorly, be unable to, cannot, will not |
| Antonyms | reject, decline, refuse | reject, insist, oppose |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'except' - remember 'accept' means to receive., Using 'accept' without an object - always specify what is being accepted., Mixing up 'accept' and 'admit' - 'accept' is about receiving, while 'admit' often implies recognition. | Confused with 'endorse' — tolerate means to accept, not to support., Using intransitively (e.g., 'I tolerate' without an object)., Mixing up with 'put up with' — tolerate is more formal. |
| Usage notes | Used when someone agrees to something offered, like an invitation or a proposal. It's appropriate in both formal and casual contexts but may become less common in very informal speech. | Used in everyday conversation and writing. It's appropriate in neutral and formal contexts, but can sound weak in informal contexts where stronger emotions are expected. |
Frequently asked questions: Accept vs Tolerate
What's the difference between Accept and Tolerate?
Accept: To agree to receive something or to believe it is true. Tolerate: To accept something unpleasant without complaining.
Which is more common: Accept and Tolerate?
Accept is the most common in everyday English.
Are Accept and Tolerate the same CEFR level?
Accept: A2, Tolerate: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Accept and Tolerate interchangeably?
Not always. Accept and Tolerate are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.