American English

Definition of patience noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary



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  1. 1patience (with somebody/something) the ability to stay calm and accept a delay or something annoying without complaining She has little patience with (= will not accept or consider) such views. People have lost patience with (= have become annoyed about) the slow pace of reform. My patience is wearing thin. Teaching children with special needs requires patience and understanding. You'd try the patience of a saint!
  2. 2the ability to spend a lot of time doing something difficult that needs a lot of attention and effort It takes time and patience to photograph wildlife. I don't have the patience to do jigsaw puzzles.
  3. Idioms
    the patience of Job
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    the fact of being extremely patient and not complaining You need the patience of Job to deal with some of our customers. From Job, a man in the Bible who experienced much suffering, including losing his family, his home, and his possessions, but continued to believe in and trust God.
    try somebody's patience
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    to make someone feel impatient His stubbornness would try the patience of a saint.
See the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary entry: patience