To tolerate something means to accept or endure it even though you don't particularly like it or agree with it. When you tolerate your little brother's annoying habit of humming during dinner, you're putting up with it without complaining. When a teacher tolerates some chattering before class starts, she's allowing it even though she'd prefer quiet.

Tolerance requires patience and self-control. You might tolerate a long car ride, tolerate someone's different opinion about which sport is best, or tolerate the taste of vegetables you're not crazy about. The word suggests you're making a choice to accept something rather than fighting against it or making a fuss.

In a broader sense, tolerance means respecting that other people have different beliefs, customs, or ways of living. A tolerant person recognizes that not everyone thinks or acts the same way they do, and that's okay. This kind of tolerance helps different kinds of people live and work together peacefully.

Notice that tolerating something isn't the same as liking it or approving of it. You can tolerate your neighbor's loud music without enjoying it. You're simply choosing not to let it bother you too much, even though you wish they'd turn it down.