Cool MateBe patient vs Tolerate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Be patient
Top 2,000 (common)
Tolerate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Be patient | Tolerate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //biː ˈpeɪʃənt//🇺🇸 //bi ˈpeɪʃənt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɒləreɪt/","/ˈtɒləreɪts/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɑːləreɪt/","/ˈtɑːləreɪts/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Wait calmly without getting angry or upset. | To accept something unpleasant without complaining. |
| Example | You need to be patient while the cake is baking. | I can tolerate cold weather, but I prefer warmer climates. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | be patient with someone, be patient during delays, please be patient, learn to be patient, try to be patient | 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 | Use in contexts where impatience is clearly shown., Confuse with 'be hasty', which means to rush., Forget to use in situations requiring calmness. | 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 | Use 'be patient' when advising someone to wait without frustration. Appropriate in both formal and informal settings. | 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: Be patient vs Tolerate
What's the difference between Be patient and Tolerate?
Be patient: Wait calmly without getting angry or upset. Tolerate: To accept something unpleasant without complaining.
Can you show an example of each?
Be patient: You need to be patient while the cake is baking. Tolerate: I can tolerate cold weather, but I prefer warmer climates.
Can I use Be patient and Tolerate interchangeably?
Not always. Be patient 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.