WordValeendure
to suffer patiently; to last
to suffer patiently; to last
In more detail
1. (verb) to experience something painful, difficult, or unpleasant and continue despite it
2. (verb) to last or continue for a long time
Examples
- 1. She endured years of hardship before finally achieving success.
- 2. Their friendship has endured for over 30 years.
How to use endure
Endure is used when someone or something persists through difficulty or across time. Sense 1 emphasizes passive or active acceptance of suffering; sense 2 emphasizes durability or longevity. Unlike tolerate, endure carries greater dignity and often implies strength or resilience. It appears frequently in formal, literary, and historical contexts.
Common phrases
- endure hardship
- endure pain
- endure the test of time
- endure for centuries
- endure in memory
Synonyms
bear · tolerate · withstand · persevere through · suffer
Opposites
quit · surrender · give up
Word family
endurable · endurance · enduring
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse endure with enjoy or prefer, when endure actually implies something is unpleasant or challenging. Also, the gerund form 'enduring' (as an adjective meaning long-lasting) is sometimes mistaken for present participle meaning.
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