easy
Learning to tie the knot took patience.
What does Patience mean?
Patience is the ability to wait or keep trying calmly.
Dictionary definition
The ability to wait, continue through difficulty, or handle annoyance calmly without giving up or becoming angry. In British English, patience also names the one-player card game called solitaire in North America.
Example sentences
Patience in a sentence
medium
Please have patience while the computer restarts.
hard
The repeated interruptions began to test Amir's patience.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice patience in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Commonly confused words
Patience or patients?
Compare the meanings, then choose a word for each new sentence.
Patience
The ability to wait or face difficulty calmly.
In a sentence Growing a garden takes patience.
Patients
People receiving medical care.
In a sentence The nurse greeted the patients.
Spot the difference Patience is the ability to wait calmly. Patients are people receiving medical care.
Which word fits?
Choose patience or patients for each blank. Say your answer, then check why it fits.
1Thank you for your ___ during the long wait.
Check answer 1
patience — The sentence names a calm way of waiting.
2The doctor spoke to three ___ this morning.
Check answer 2
patients — The sentence names people receiving care.
Make it your ownTry the word in a sentence about your day.
Write a sentence with patienceQuick practice
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Practice the meaning of Patience
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does patience usually mean?
Patience helps someone handle delay, difficulty, or annoyance calmly.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses patience correctly?
Working steadily through difficulty can require patience.
Practice 3
In British English, what can patience also mean?
British English uses patience for the card game usually called solitaire in North America.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
Pronunciation coach
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Patience
Voice settings
Sounds like
pay · shuns · strongest beat: pay
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordPatience.
Partnoun.
MeaningPatience is the ability to wait or keep trying calmly.
ExampleExample: Learning to tie the knot took patience.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- pay · shuns
- Strongest beat
- pay
- Ending
- shuns
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on pay.
Your turn
Say Patience
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Coach
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Ready when you are.
Nice work—you practiced patience.
Synonyms
Words like Patience
forbearanceUse for calm self-control when facing annoyance or difficulty; it is more formal.
perseveranceUse for continuing despite difficulty; it does not necessarily include calm waiting.
toleranceUse for willingness to endure something, though tolerance has several broader meanings.
Antonyms
Opposite words
impatienceThe direct opposite: difficulty waiting or staying calm.
restlessnessA qualified contrast for being unable to remain still or settled while waiting.
Synonym practice
Want to practice patience synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The coach showed forbearance while the new players learned," then compare close word choices. Practice patience synonyms.
Word family
Patience word family
Base word
patient
adverb
patiently
In a calm way while waiting or facing difficulty.
adjective
impatient
Unable or unwilling to wait calmly.
noun
impatience
The feeling or quality of being impatient.
Related words
Explore related words
Student support
Understand Patience
Hint for students
Look for calm waiting, steady effort through difficulty, or self-control when something is annoying.
Common mix-up
Patience is not passivity or giving up. It can involve active, steady effort, and perseverance is only a close synonym when the focus is continuing through difficulty.
Try it in class or at home
Students sort situations into waiting, persisting, and handling annoyance, then write how patience could change one person's response in each category.
Teacher prompt
Compare waiting calmly, persisting through a hard task, and tolerating an annoyance. Ask what patience contributes in each situation.
Learning activities
Practice Patience and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice PATIENCE” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
Practice PATIENCE
Sentence Builder
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Explore · Spelling
Spell Hive
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Vocabulary Match
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Match meanings
Explore · Context
Context Clue Challenge
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Practice PATIENCE
Synonym Search
Compare meanings in a question that includes PATIENCE.
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Explore · Scramble
Scrambled Bees
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