What does tolerating mean?
Tolerating means allowing something to happen, especially when one does not fully approve of it, or enduring a difficult or unpleasant situation with patience. The word can describe a voluntary acceptance, as in tolerating different opinions, or a reluctant endurance, as in tolerating long delays. Its use often carries a mild negative implication: the person or institution is putting up with something rather than welcoming it enthusiastically. Tolerating disagreement or criticism can have a positive sense, emphasizing openness to debate, while tolerating abuse or disruption suggests that a boundary is being crossed. The word is related to tolerate and tolerance, and its Latin roots connect the modern English meanings of allowing and enduring with the older idea of bearing or suffering something. In everyday use, tolerating is more explicit than tolerating a situation and can emphasize either the act of acceptance or the experience of endurance.
verbTo allow something to happen without prohibiting it or strongly objecting to it; also, to endure or put up with something difficult or unpleasant.
- Allowing something to occur without prohibiting it, objecting strongly to it, or trying to prevent it.
- Enduring or putting up with something difficult, unpleasant, or unwelcome.
"The committee was unwilling to tolerate persistent disruption of its meetings."
"The teacher was practicing tolerating different viewpoints during the discussion."
"He spent several months tolerating a noisy construction site next to his apartment."
"The organization is not tolerating abusive behavior toward staff or visitors."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tolerating come from?
Tolerating is derived from tolerate, which comes from Latin tolerare, meaning to bear, endure, or tolerate. The English word entered usage in the early 16th century in the sense of enduring or allowing something with patience or permission. Related words such as tolerable, tolerance, toleration, and intolerant developed from the same Latin root and reflect both the permissive and endurance-related senses.
Related word forms
How tolerating is actually used
Tolerating is the present participle and gerund form of tolerate. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but can suggest that something is being endured or permitted even though it is considered undesirable or objectionable. There is no significant regional difference between standard British and American usage.
Easily confused with tolerating
Tolerating describes the act of allowing or enduring something, whereas tolerant describes a person who accepts different views or behavior without hostility.