Cool MateBear with patience vs Tolerate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bear with patience
Top 3,000 (common)
Tolerate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Tolerate
| Bear with patience | Tolerate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bɛə wɪð ˈpeɪʃəns//🇺🇸 //bɛr wɪð ˈpeɪʃəns// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɒləreɪt/","/ˈtɒləreɪts/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɑːləreɪt/","/ˈtɑːləreɪts/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Stay calm and wait without getting angry. | To accept something unpleasant without complaining. |
| Example | Please bear with me while I finish this phone call. | I can tolerate cold weather, but I prefer warmer climates. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | bear with me, bear with us, bear with each other | 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, insist, oppose |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'bare' - make sure to use 'bear' instead., Using 'bear with' without an object - always include who or what to bear with., Misunderstanding the meaning - it means to be patient, not to physically carry something. | 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 asking someone to be patient or understanding, often in informal contexts. Avoid in very formal situations. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bear with patience vs Tolerate
What's the difference between Bear with patience and Tolerate?
Bear with patience: Stay calm and wait without getting angry. Tolerate: To accept something unpleasant without complaining.
Which is more common: Bear with patience and Tolerate?
Tolerate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Bear with patience: Please bear with me while I finish this phone call. Tolerate: I can tolerate cold weather, but I prefer warmer climates.
Can I use Bear with patience and Tolerate interchangeably?
Not always. Bear with patience 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.