Suffer in English: Usage, Grammar, Phrases and Tips

The verb “suffer” is widely used in English to describe physical pain, emotional struggle, or consequences. In this guide, you’ll learn what “suffer” really means, how to use it in different grammar forms, its common collocations, and how to avoid typical mistakes.

I. What is Suffer in English?

The verb Suffer in English means to experience pain, hardship, or something unpleasant. According to the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries, “suffer” is most often used when someone goes through physical pain, emotional distress, or a negative consequence.

It is a transitive or intransitive verb, depending on the structure. In everyday English, you’ll often hear it in situations related to health, emotions, or loss.

Here are three common contexts where “suffer” is used:

• Physical pain:
  He suffered a heart attack last year.

• Emotional or mental distress:
  She suffered from anxiety during her exams.

• Unpleasant consequences or loss:
  The company suffered major financial losses after the crisis.

Understanding these typical uses will help you apply “suffer” naturally in real-life conversations, writing, and tests.

• To broaden your lexical range, you may also explore English vocabulary by topics,

1. How to Use “Suffer” in English Grammar

The verb “suffer” is used in English to express the experience of something difficult, painful, or unpleasant. It can function both as a transitive verb (requiring an object) and as an intransitive verb (without an object), depending on the sentence structure.

Common Grammatical Structures with “Suffer”

Verb Tense Forms of “Suffer”

Understanding different tenses helps learners use “suffer” appropriately in both written and spoken contexts:

Important Notes for Learners:

• Always use the correct preposition. A common mistake is omitting “from” in structures like “suffer from.”

• Recognize active vs. passive voice. “Suffer” is most often used actively (She suffered losses), but passive form is possible in formal contexts (Losses were suffered).

• Check the context. The emotional weight and meaning of “suffer” can vary depending on whether you're talking about a person, an event, or an organization.

2. Common Collocations and Phrases with “Suffer”

The verb “suffer” commonly appears in fixed expressions or collocations—word combinations that are natural to native speakers. Using the right collocation doesn't only sound more fluent, but it's also essential for writing and speaking effectively in both formal and informal contexts.

Common Collocations with “Suffer”

Notes on Register and Context

• Some collocations are more common in formal contexts (e.g. suffer damage, suffer hardship).

• Others are frequently used in personal or emotional contexts (e.g. suffer pain, suffer in silence).

• Be mindful of tone and intensity: “suffer” often carries a serious, emotional, or severe tone.

By becoming familiar with these collocations, language learners can better recognize native usage in reading and listening, and apply them correctly in their own writing and speech.

• For learners who prefer visual systems, v  vconsider checking the English vocabulary mind map.

3. Synonyms and Antonyms of “Suffer”

Understanding synonyms and antonyms of “suffer” will help you improve your vocabulary range and choose words with the most accurate tone and intensity for each context.

Synonyms of “Suffer”

Depending on the meaning and situation, “suffer” can be replaced with several alternatives. Here are the most common synonyms, grouped by context:

Note: Not all these words are interchangeable; pay attention to tone, formality, and context (emotional vs. physical suffering).

Antonyms of “Suffer”

The opposite of “suffer” depends on how the word is being used. Here are the most natural antonyms:

Using synonyms and antonyms not only helps to avoid repetition but also brings greater precision and nuance to your writing and speaking. It is especially useful for essays, storytelling, and standardized tests.

• Additional high-utility vocabulary can be found in the IELTS Vocabulary Booster

II. Practical Usage – How to Use “Suffer” Naturally

While it’s important to know the definitions and grammar of "suffer," truly mastering the word means knowing how to use it naturally and appropriately in real-life situations. This includes understanding formality, tone, and common learner mistakes to avoid.

• To strengthen vocabulary recognition in reading tests, review skimming and scanning.

Formal vs. Informal Usage

“Suffer” tends to be more frequent in formal or serious contexts, such as academic writing, news reports, or medical discussions. However, in everyday conversation, native speakers often use milder or more casual alternatives.

Tip: In casual spoken English, verbs like go through, feel, struggle with, or deal with are more commonly used than “suffer.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

For English learners, "suffer" is sometimes misused or overused. Below are typical errors and how to correct them:

Tips to Sound More Natural

• Don’t overuse “suffer” — mix in alternatives (struggle with, go through, deal with) when appropriate.

• Use adverbs to express intensity: suffer greatly, suffer silently, suffer emotionally.

• Be aware of register: avoid dramatic uses of “suffer” in light or humorous topics unless it’s meant as irony.
  Ex: I’m suffering because I skipped lunch! (sounds overly dramatic)

For systematic improvement, explore the 4000 Essential English Words resource.

III. Master IELTS Like a Pro

PREP hopes that through this article, you have understood "What is Suffer in English?", "Which prepositions are used with Suffer in English?" as well as the usage, synonyms, collocations, and idioms used with Suffer in English. If you want to master the IELTS exam, PREP’s proven strategies will give you the confidence to succeed 

• IELTS learning online: Master IELTS With Us!