patience
noun
pa·tience
ˈpā-shən(t)s 
1
: the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient: such as
a
: the ability to accept obstacles or delays in a calm and self-possessed way
The longest lines are always for the barbecue, and those with the patience to wait will find out why.—
Danielle Ames
Danielle Ames
b
: the ability to act with calm or restraint under provocation or strain
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
I don't have much patience for that kind of behavior.
The team continues to play poorly, and many fans are starting to lose patience.
c
: the ability to persevere over a long period of time despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
I don't have the patience to do crossword puzzles.
… a complex bureaucracy that requires endless patience to navigate.—Tara Henley
Tara Henley2
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.
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
Epstein would occasionally lose his patience.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Through this project, Jamie shows that the core ideas behind modern machines—cars, fans, and even industrial robots—can be understood with simple components and a bit of patience.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Feb. 2026
The scenes showing the underground network and the communication between plants and fungi in the soil were an exercise in patience and overcoming challenges for the team at all stages of production.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Set the tone through personal conduct, demonstrating patience, respect, and restraint.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patience
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Through this project, Jamie shows that the core ideas behind modern machines—cars, fans, and even industrial robots—can be understood with simple components and a bit of patience.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Feb. 2026
The scenes showing the underground network and the communication between plants and fungi in the soil were an exercise in patience and overcoming challenges for the team at all stages of production.
—Kevin Giraud, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Set the tone through personal conduct, demonstrating patience, respect, and restraint.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for patience
Cite this Entry
“Patience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patience. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patience
noun
pa·tience
ˈpā-shən(t)s
: the quality or state of being patient
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