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patience
noun
pa·tience
ˈpā-shən(t)s
1
: the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient
2
chiefly British
: solitaire sense 2
Examples of patience in a Sentence
To be a biographer is a somewhat peculiar endeavor. It seems to me it requires not only the tact, patience, and thoroughness of a scholar but also the stamina of a horse.
—Nancy Milford, Vanity Fair, August 2001
… in this time of bioethical conundrums, it is good to know that patience, good will, and personal morality will untie far more intellectual knots than the disarray of rancor, conflict, and special interests …
—Sherwin B. Nuland, New Republic, 13 Dec. 1999
Mind-numbing delays and irrelevant search results are enough to try the patience of the most saintly Web surfers.
—Neil Gross et al., Business Week, 14 June 1999
After a while, their ideological certitudes tried the patience of their own peoples …
—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., New Yorker, 16 Nov. 1992
I don't have the patience to wait in line for hours just to buy a ticket.
Investors need to have patience. The economy will improve soon.
She treated her students with great patience and humor.
I don't have the patience to do crossword puzzles.
Recent Examples on the Web
Democratic government challenges our wisdom, our patience and our sense of fairness.
—Cindy Chavez, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Best show patience with young Buffs who’ll have to learn on the fly while traveling to hoops hornets nests such as Stillwater (Jan. 18), Tucson (Jan. 21), Lawrence (Feb. 11), Ames (Feb. 18) and Lubbock (March 5) this winter.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024
While patience is required to see that impact, ultimately ad recall is higher than for other types of advertising.
—Andrea Wasserman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
From voting lines to counting ballots: Democracy requires patience
Happy election day!
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for patience
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Word History
Etymology
see patient entry 1
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of patience was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing patience
Dictionary Entries Near patience
Cite this Entry
“Patience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patience. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
patience
noun
pa·tience
ˈpā-shən(t)s
: the quality or state of being patient
More from Merriam-Webster on patience
Nglish: Translation of patience for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of patience for Arabic Speakers
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