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suffer
/ˈsʌfər/
experience pain or hardship
She suffered greatly during her illness.
She experienced significant physical or emotional pain while sick.
general
to experience pain, distress, or hardship
Many people suffer from back pain.
Many people experience chronic pain in their backs.
Often used with 'from' when referring to illnesses or conditions.
general
to be negatively affected by a situation
The economy suffered during the crisis.
The economy was negatively impacted by the financial crisis.
Used for abstract concepts like economies, reputations, or performance.
formal
to allow something unpleasant to happen
I will not suffer such rudeness.
I will not tolerate or allow such rude behavior.
Formal usage; implies refusing to tolerate an action.
Collocations
suffer fromexperience a chronic conditionsuffer consequencesface negative resultssuffer in silenceendure pain without complaining
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Preposition Usage
Use 'suffer from' for diseases/conditions (e.g., suffer from asthma). Do not use 'from' for direct objects like pain or loss (e.g., suffer pain, suffer loss).
Gold Rule
Contextual Precision
Distinguish between physical/emotional pain (suffer pain) and negative impact on systems (suffer decline). Use 'from' only for chronic conditions.
Word Origin
From Old English 'sufferan' (to bear, endure), from Latin 'sufferre' (to bear, carry), from 'sub-' (under) + 'ferre' (to bear).
Usage Notes
Use 'suffer from' for illnesses or conditions. Use 'suffer' directly for abstract negative impacts (e.g., 'reputation suffered').
Word Breakdown
sub-
under
prefixferre
to bear/carry
rootEnglish Dictionary