patience
B1Formal, Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The ability to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
A state of calm endurance, often with a positive, tolerant attitude, or the capacity to persevere in a task despite difficulties or boredom; also used as the name for a card game for one player (solitaire).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun. Used countably in specific contexts (e.g., 'the patience of a saint'). The name of the card game is uncountable in UK English (e.g., 'a game of patience') but countable as 'solitaire' in US English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The main lexical difference is the card game: in British English, the game is called 'patience'; in American English, it is called 'solitaire'. The abstract noun 'patience' is otherwise identical in meaning and usage.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used in religious or philosophical contexts in British English (e.g., 'Christian patience'), though this is not a strong distinction. In both varieties, it is a positive character trait.
Frequency
The word itself is of similar high frequency in both varieties. The use for the card game is more frequent in UK English, where 'patience' is the standard term.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
patience with [someone/something]patience of [a specific person/type]patience to [do something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the patience of Job”
- “run out of patience”
- “wear thin (one's patience)”
- “try the patience of a saint”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when discussing project management, client relations, or learning new systems (e.g., 'This software rollout will require patience from all staff').
Academic
Common in psychology, education, and philosophy texts to describe a character trait or a component of emotional regulation.
Everyday
Frequent in advice and complaints (e.g., 'You need to have more patience with the children', 'My patience is wearing thin').
Technical
In game theory or behavioural science, referring to delayed gratification or waiting strategies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He found it hard to patient his way through the queue. (Rare/archaic; standard is 'to be patient' or 'to have patience')
American English
- 'Patience' is not used as a verb in modern American English.
adverb
British English
- He waited patiently for his turn.
- She listened patiently to the complicated story.
American English
- The teacher patiently repeated the instructions.
- They worked patiently on the intricate puzzle.
adjective
British English
- She was remarkably patient during the long delay.
- The patient gardener was rewarded with beautiful blooms.
American English
- You have to be patient when teaching a new skill.
- He gave a patient explanation to the confused customer.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- You need patience to learn a language.
- The teacher has a lot of patience.
- I don't have much patience today.
- My patience was tested by the endless bureaucracy.
- Gardening teaches you patience.
- He showed remarkable patience with the difficult client.
- Her patience finally snapped after the third missed deadline.
- The negotiations will require immense patience and diplomatic skill.
- He embarked on the painstaking restoration work with monastic patience.
- The committee's patience with the contractor's excuses had worn perilously thin.
- His philosophical writings extol the virtues of patience as a form of inner strength.
- The research process demands a patience that borders on the obsessive.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PATIENT in a hospital waiting room. Both the person (a patient) and the quality (patience) involve calm waiting.
Conceptual Metaphor
PATIENCE IS A CONTAINER (that can be filled, exhausted, or run out of); PATIENCE IS A RESOURCE (that can be spent, used, or conserved); PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE (moral quality).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'пациент' (a medical patient). The Russian word 'терпение' is a direct equivalent for the abstract noun.
- Beware of false friends: 'патиенс' in Russian refers specifically to the card game, not the character trait.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'patient' as a noun synonym for 'patience' (e.g., 'You need more patient' instead of 'You need more patience').
- Misspelling as 'patiance'.
- Using it as a countable noun in general contexts (e.g., 'I have a great patience').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 'patience'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily an uncountable noun. You say 'a lot of patience' or 'great patience'. It can be used countably in specific constructions like 'the patience of a saint'.
'Patience' is about calm waiting or tolerance of delay/annoyance. 'Perseverance' is about continued effort and determination to achieve something despite difficulties. They often overlap but have different emphases.
It refers to playing the card game known as 'solitaire' in the US. It's a game for one person, often involving arranging cards in a specific order.
It is pronounced /ˈpeɪʃ(ə)ns/. The key sounds are 'pay' and 'shns'. The 't' is pronounced as 'sh' /ʃ/.