patient
adjective
pa·tient
| \ ËpÄ-shÉnt
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Definition of patient
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2
: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3
: not hasty or impetuous
4
: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
5a
: able or willing to bear
—used with of
b
: susceptible, admitting
patient of one interpretation
patient
noun
pa·tient
| \ ËpÄ-shÉnt
\
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Definition of patient (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment
cancer patients psychiatric patients
b
: the recipient of any of various personal services
2
: one that is acted upon
are agents as well as patients and observers in the world— C. H. Whiteley
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Synonyms & Antonyms for patient
Synonyms: Adjective
forbearing, long-suffering, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining
Synonyms: Noun
Antonyms: Adjective
complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting
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Examples of patient in a Sentence
Adjective
To pry apart violent Islamic radicals, the United States has to become knowledgeable about internal cleavages and be patient in exploiting them. — Samantha Power, New York Times Book Review, 29 July 2007 I pack them into the compartment for a visit, pack till it's full far beyond capacity and weep with them, share with them my scanty bit of good fortune, tell them I care, tell them be patient, tell them I'm on their side ⊠— John Edgar Wideman, Harper's, December 2003 There's no sense being patient with people who make you wait, because they'll only make you wait longer the next time. — Andrew A. Rooney, And More by Andy Rooney, (1979) 1982 I hate having to stand in long lines. I'm just not very patient. The teacher treated her students in a patient and understanding way. âAren't you finished yet?â âBe patient. I'll be done soon.â Proofreading requires patient attention to detail. They put in years of patient labor on the project.Noun
Several patients were waiting to see the doctor. the nurse asked the patient to change into a paper gown
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
But be patient: Many world-changing ideas start small. — Fortune Editors, Fortune, "Change the World 2019: Where Business Creates Virtuous Circles," 19 Aug. 2019 Let the natural lines in a scene guide your own eye, and be patient as the moment unfolds in your viewfinder. — Kristen Mcnicholas, National Geographic, "Your best photos of the week, August 16, 2019," 16 Aug. 2019 Be patient if someone is difficult to bargain with. — Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive.com, "Horoscope for Aug. 6, 2019: Happy birthday Ever Carradine; Virgo, the wise donât need to put on a display," 6 Aug. 2019 Chairman Jerome Powell pledged to be patient and make future decisions based on the data coming into the Fed. — Larry Edelman, BostonGlobe.com, "Fed puts its credibility on the line with plan to cut rates while US economy is still healthy," 30 July 2019 Sidama officials agreed to the delay and told their supporters to be patient. — The Economist, "Ethnic separatists are challenging Ethiopiaâs unity," 25 July 2019 How quickly the wild yeasts take off depends on a number of factors, including ambient temperature, so be patient. — Gemma Tarlach, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bounty of the bees extends far beyond honey for your tea - to lotions, balms and even drinks," 16 July 2019 Mariners: Be patient with Felix Hernandez and let the fans enjoy whatâs (likely) his final year in Seattle. — Jesse Yomtov, USA TODAY, "One thing every MLB team needs to do in the second half," 12 July 2019 Miller was charged with six counts of aggravated manslaughter and three counts of tampering with or fabricating evidence in connection with patient medical records. — al, "Florida nursing home employees charged in 12 Hurricane Irma deaths," 27 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Attorney and pharmacist Erica Lindsay teaches legal matters, such as how patients and workers can qualify legally for medical dispensaries. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Aspiring budtenders learning the ins and outs of cannabis dispensary work at first community college course of its kind in Illinois," 10 Sep. 2019 But based on my experience, there can be a disconnect between doctors and patients about what a cervical biopsy actually entails. — Gigi Engle, Glamour, "The Trauma of My Cervical Biopsy," 10 Sep. 2019 The highest dose of Amgenâs AMG 510 shrank tumors in seven of 13 patients and the disease was stable in the remaining six, though the benefit didnât always last. — BostonGlobe.com, "Shopify to acquire Waltham robot maker 6 River," 10 Sep. 2019 The disease is most common in older patients and does not have a direct cause, but there are several risk factors, including smoking, overuse of over-the-counter pain medications, obesity, high blood pressure and family history. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Hallmark Channel Host Cameron Mathison Reveals He Has Kidney Cancer: 'Feeling Very Optimistic'," 10 Sep. 2019 The Ballard House provides free lodging for patients and their families who come to the Houston area for medical treatment for a life-threatening condition. — Houston Chronicle, "Katy-area calendar of events," 9 Sep. 2019 Those affected the most by these costs are patients and families without insurance, the study said. — Amir Vera, CNN, "The average crowdfunding campaign for cancer care asks for $10,000 -- but only gets about $2,000," 9 Sep. 2019 The meeting is free for heart patients and their families. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Group makes lap blankets to honor veterans," 9 Sep. 2019 Cancer CAREpointâs 2019 garden party had record attendance (520 guests) who helped raise over $1 million for the nonprofit that provides free non-medical support services for cancer patients and their families. — Debby Rice, The Mercury News, "Reunions, fundraisers draw West Valley residents," 8 Sep. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patient.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for patient
patient
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of patient
(Entry 1 of 2)
: able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing with problems or difficult people
: done in a careful way over a long period of time without hurrying