tolerance - Master This Word

tolerance Word Meanings

• the ability to accept or tolerate differences
• the capacity to endure pain or hardship
• a fair and objective attitude towards those whose opinions differ

tolerance Example Sentences

Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.

• Tolerance is important in a community.
• He showed tolerance to different ideas.
• We need more tolerance for people's differences.
• Her tolerance helped solve the problem.
• Tolerance makes friendship stronger.

tolerance Word Etymology

Root: 'tolerare' (to bear) + 'ance' (state of) → From Latin through Old French into English. Picture yourself standing tall and unyielding like a tree in a storm, embodying the essence of tolerance as you withstand the varied winds.

English Brain Route

Take a slow breath and shift my weight in the chair, hands resting on the table as I listen. I move from quick reactions to pausing, letting the other person’s words land before I reply. That pause is a bit tense, but I keep my posture open and my voice calm, and it feels like I’m choosing fairness. With each small move and adjust, tolerance grows, helping me stay fair when opinions differ.

Real Context

Tolerance is the ability to accept differences in people, ideas, and situations without feeling threatened or dismissive. It does not mean you automatically agree with every perspective; it means you give others room to hold their views while you maintain your own standards. Tolerance also includes enduring discomfort or pain with resilience, such as enduring a difficult project or weathering a long wait without snapping. In daily life, tolerance helps communities stay peaceful when opinions vary, and it supports fair, objective judging in contentious debates. Developing tolerance often requires active listening, curiosity, and humility, recognizing that no one has a monopoly on truth.

Usage Reminders

• - Use tolerance to describe acceptance of differences, not agreement.
• - Distinguish tolerance from indifference or endorsement.
• - Be careful with tolerance versus tolerate as a verb form.
• - Avoid sarcasm; practice patient listening.
• - Pair with collocations like tolerance for/with and high tolerance.

Common Misconceptions

• Tolerance means you must agree with every opinion.
• Tolerance equals weakness or passivity.
• If you tolerate someone, you endorse their behavior.
• Tolerance means you accept harm without speaking up.
• Tolerance is the same as indifference.

Thinking Differences

In English, tolerance is often framed as openness to differences plus a sense of endurance; learners may conflate tolerance with mere politeness or with agreement, so focus on distinguishing acceptance from endorsement.

Learning Tips

• Read about tolerance in different domains (work, school, online discussions).
• Practice listening to views you disagree with without interrupting.
• Note the difference between tolerance and endorsement in examples.
• Learn common collocations (tolerance for, high tolerance, low tolerance).
• Reflect on your own biases and how they affect tolerance.
• Look for real incidents of tolerance in media or history.

5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English

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