Words / B1

SUF-uh/ˈsʌfə/

Suffer means feel pain or have a bad experience. Suffer from headaches / stress; the town suffered damage; suffer a defeat. Hurt is more everyday and physical; experience can be neutral. Suffering is the noun. A common pattern is suffer from + illness. Do not write “suffer of.”

Meaning

To feel pain or have a bad experience.

Examples

• “The town suffered after the flood.”
• “Many families suffered during the power cuts.”
• “He suffers from hay fever in summer.”

Good to know

suffer from + illness. suffer damage / a defeat. Everyday physical: hurt. Not “suffer of.”

Near in meaning

endure

New