forbearance

/fɔːˈbeərəns/ (bre, ipa) · /fɔːrˈberəns/ (ame, ipa) · /fȯr-ˈber-ən(t)s fər-/ (ame, mw)

forbearance — noun

1. the ability to stay calm, patient, and forgiving when someone has said or done s

1.名詞B2
釋義

the ability to stay calm, patient, and forgiving when someone has said or done something upsetting, rather than reacting with anger or punishment

例句

Mei-Lin showed great forbearance when her younger brother accidentally broke her ceramic vase.

show forbearance — collocation

The teacher's forbearance with the disruptive students earned her the respect of the whole school.

forbearance with someone — preposition pattern

同義詞
  • patience

    more common and general; forbearance specifically adds the element of restraint from retaliation

  • tolerance

    can apply to accepting different opinions or behaviors; forbearance is more about enduring difficulty or wrongdoing

  • leniency

    focuses on not punishing harshly; forbearance focuses on inner emotional control

反義詞
  • impatience

    lack of patience or willingness to wait

  • intolerance

    unwillingness to accept others' flaws or mistakes

  • retaliation

    acting out against someone who has wronged you

文法句型

forbearance (with/towards someone)

show/exercise forbearance

用法筆記

Frequently paired with 'patience' in the fixed expression 'patience and forbearance'. Subject is typically a person or group exercising self-restraint toward someone who has caused difficulty.

常見錯誤

I have forbearance for his mistakes.
I show forbearance toward his mistakes.
💡Forbearance is usually used with verbs like 'show', 'exercise', or 'demonstrate', not 'have'.

2. a formal arrangement in which a lender or authority allows extra time to pay mon

2.名詞C1
釋義

a formal arrangement in which a lender or authority allows extra time to pay money that is owed, or temporarily agrees not to enforce a legal right, without charging a penalty

例句

The bank granted Wei a six-month forbearance on his mortgage payments after he lost his job.

grant forbearance on — finance collocation

Under the forbearance agreement, Nora makes reduced monthly payments for one year.

forbearance agreement — legal term

同義詞
  • deferment

    specifically a delay in payment; forbearance is broader and can cover rights or obligations

  • grace period

    a set time during which no penalty applies; forbearance is the agreement itself

  • moratorium

    a temporary suspension of activity, often official; forbearance is more specific to debt/rights

反義詞
  • enforcement

    the act of compelling payment or compliance

  • foreclosure

    the legal process of seizing property when a loan is not repaid

文法句型

forbearance on [debt/payment]

grant forbearance

forbearance agreement

用法筆記

In legal and financial contexts, 'forbearance' usually refers to a written agreement with specific terms. Distinguish from 'deferment', which only postpones payment — forbearance may allow reduced payments or temporary suspension.

常見錯誤

I got a forbearance from the bank.
The bank granted me forbearance on my loan.
💡Forbearance is granted, not 'gotten'; it is typically an uncountable noun in this context.