noun
patience
PAY-shuhns/ˈpeɪʃns/
The ability to stay calm through delay or difficulty.
The woman shows patience while waiting calmly beside the man checking his watch.
Etymology
Latin patientia named the quality of suffering or enduring. English developed this capacity to bear adversity into calm endurance of everyday frustrations, including the discomfort of waiting.
In context
You can judge this delay as an unexpected pocket of time, an opportunity for a moment of patience
More examples
- Thank you for your patience while we fix the problem.
- Learning to play the violin takes patience.
- I lose patience when people keep interrupting me.
Forms
patient adjective — Able to endure delays or difficulties calmly.
patiently adverb — With calm acceptance of delays or difficulties.
Similar words
- composure
- Emphasizes emotional self-control, especially during stress rather than delay.
- tolerance
- Emphasizes accepting unpleasant conditions or behavior without strong objection.
- perseverance
- Emphasizes continuing an effort despite difficulty, not necessarily staying calm.