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be patient
/bi ˈpeɪʃənt/
remain calm and wait
Be patient with your little brother while he learns to tie his shoes.
Remain calm and wait without getting frustrated as someone learns something new.
informal
to remain calm and wait without complaining or getting frustrated
The doctor told me to be patient while waiting for the test results.
The doctor advised me to stay calm and not rush the process.
Be patient with the software update—it might take a few minutes.
Wait calmly during the software update process.
Commonly used in everyday situations to encourage someone to wait calmly.
Collocations
be patient withshow tolerance toward someone or somethingbe patient aboutremain calm regarding a specific matterbe patient forwait calmly for something to happen
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake
Avoid using 'be patient' to describe someone who is naturally calm. Instead, use 'is patient' for a permanent trait (e.g., 'She is patient with children').
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Use 'be patient' to encourage someone to wait calmly for a process or outcome, not to describe a person's general temperament.
Word Origin
The phrase combines the verb 'be' (from Old English 'bēon') and 'patient' (from Latin 'patiens', meaning 'suffering' or 'enduring'). The concept of 'patience' has roots in the idea of enduring hardship without complaint, dating back to ancient philosophical traditions.
Usage Notes
This phrase is often used to encourage someone to endure a delay or difficulty without frustration. It can apply to people, situations, or processes.
Word Breakdown
be
to remain in a state
verbpatient
calmly enduring delay or trouble
adjectiveEnglish Dictionary