WordGarden.ioforbearance
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈɔːbeərəns/
US
- /fɔrˈbɛrəns/
Meanings
Noun
patient restraint or tolerance, especially when provoked
a formal delay in collecting a debt or enforcing a right
Beyond the definition
Forbearance is not just putting up with something annoying. It is the choice to stay calm and not react right away, even when someone tests your patience. Imagine a younger sibling borrowing your things again without asking. You may feel angry, but this word suggests taking a breath and holding back instead of starting a fight. It often comes from patience, understanding, or kindness. A judge, for example, might show it to a first-time offender by being less harsh. In everyday life, it is about choosing self-control when you have every reason to react.
Forbearance is the act of patiently and calmly enduring something difficult or unpleasant. It is more than passive acceptance; it suggests a conscious choice to hold back from taking action, especially when you have the right or power to act. Think of a long, slow-moving line at the grocery store: you might feel frustrated, but forbearance means waiting your turn with composure rather than causing a scene.
Historically, the word is rooted in the Old English forberan, which combines the prefix for- (meaning "away" or "off") with beran (meaning "to bear"). This origin highlights its core meaning: to bear with someone or to hold back from an impulse. This nuance makes it a common term in legal and financial contexts. For example, a bank might grant "mortgage forbearance" by allowing a borrower extra time to repay a loan during a financial crisis, or a landlord might show forbearance by delaying an eviction to give a tenant a chance to recover.
However, the word is not limited to formal agreements. In personal relationships, forbearance is a quiet strength. A parent showing forbearance toward a rebellious teenager is choosing patience and guidance over immediate retribution. It represents a commitment to maintaining peace and understanding even when challenged. While tolerance involves simply accepting something unpleasant, forbearance involves the active management of one's own impulses, making it a powerful virtue rooted in grace and self-discipline.
Examples
- 1
Customer service
She listened to the angry customer with remarkable forbearance.
- 2
Workplace criticism
Even after weeks of criticism, he showed forbearance toward his coworkers.
- 3
Formal request
We ask for your forbearance while the elevators are being repaired.
- Usageask for your forbearance
a formal way to ask for patience
- 4
Mortgage relief
During the pandemic, some homeowners received mortgage forbearance for six months.
- Domainmortgage forbearance
a temporary pause or reduction in loan payments
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- show forbearance
- exercise forbearance
- forbearance toward someone
Word family
Explore
- self-control
- mercy
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- forbearancenoun