Comfort Definition And Meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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comfort

(kʌmfəʳt ) Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense comforts, present participle comforting, past tense, past participle comforted1. uncountable noun [oft in/for N] B2 If you are doing something in comfort, you are physically relaxed and contented, and are not feeling any pain or other unpleasant sensations. This will enable the audience to sit in comfort while watching the shows. The shoe has padding around the collar, heel and tongue for added comfort. 2. uncountable noun [oft in NOUN] Comfort is a style of life in which you have enough money to have everything you need. Thanks to the success of her books, she lives in comfort. 3. uncountable noun Comfort is what you feel when worries or unhappiness stop. He welcomed the truce, but pointed out it was of little comfort to families spending Christmas without a loved one. [+ to] He will be able to take some comfort from inflation figures due on Friday. He found comfort in Eva's blind faith in him. 4. See also cold comfort 5. countable noun [usually singular] If you refer to a person, thing, or idea as a comfort, you mean that it helps you to stop worrying or makes you feel less unhappy. It's a comfort talking to you. Being able to afford a drink would be a comfort in these tough times. Synonyms: ease, luxury, wellbeing, opulence More Synonyms of comfort 6. verb If you comfort someone, you make them feel less worried, unhappy, or upset, for example by saying kind things to them. Ned put his arm around her, trying to comfort her. [VERB noun] Synonyms: console, encourage, ease, cheer More Synonyms of comfort 7. countable noun [usually plural] Comforts are things which make your life easier and more pleasant, such as electrical devices you have in your home. She enjoys the material comforts this jet-set lifestyle has to offer. Electricity provides us with warmth and light and all our modern home comforts. I do like my comforts. 8. See also creature comforts 9. See too close etc for comfort More Synonyms of comfort Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers British English pronunciation

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American English pronunciation

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comfort in British English

(ˈkʌmfət ) noun1. a state of ease or well-being 2. relief from affliction, grief, etc 3. a person, thing, or event that brings solace or ease 4. obsolete support 5. (usually plural) something that affords physical ease and relaxation verb (transitive)6. to ease the pain of; soothe; cheer 7. to bring physical ease to Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers Derived formscomforting (ˈcomforting) adjective comfortingly (ˈcomfortingly) adverb comfortless (ˈcomfortless) adjective comfortlessly (ˈcomfortlessly) adverb comfortlessness (ˈcomfortlessness) noun Word originC13: from Old French confort, from Late Latin confortāre to strengthen very much, from Latin con- (intensive) + fortis strong COBUILD frequency band

comfort in American English

(ˈkʌmfərt) verb transitiveOrigin: ME comforten < OFr conforter, to comfort < LL (esp. in Vulg. of O.T.) confortare, to strengthen much < L com-, intens. + fortis, strong: see fort11. to soothe in distress or sorrow; ease the misery or grief of; bring consolation or hope to 2. to give a sense of ease to 3. law to help; aid noun4. aid; encouragement [now only in aid and comfort] 5. relief from distress, grief, etc.; consolation 6. a person or thing that comforts 7. a state of ease and quiet enjoyment, free from worry, pain, or trouble 8. anything that makes life easy or comfortable 9. US a quilted bed covering; comforter SYNONYMY NOTE: comfort suggests the lessening of misery or grief by cheering, calming, or inspiring with hope; console1 suggests less positive relief but implies a moderation of the sense of loss or disappointment [to console someone on the death of a parent]; solace suggests the relieving of melancholy, boredom, or loneliness [he solaced himself with music]; relieve suggests the mitigation, often temporary, of misery or discomfort so as to make it bearable [to relieve the poor]; soothe implies the calming or allaying of pain or distress [to soothe a fretful child] OPPOSITES: afflict, distress Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 5th Digital Edition. Copyright © 2025 HarperCollins Publishers. Derived forms comforting (ˈcomforting) adjective comfortless (ˈcomfortless) adjective COBUILD frequency band

comfort in American English

(ˈkʌmfərt) transitive verb1. to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to They tried to comfort her after her loss 2. to make physically comfortable 3. obsolete to aid; support or encourage noun4. relief in affliction; consolation; solace Her presence was a comfort to him 5. a feeling of relief or consolation Her forgiveness afforded him great comfort 6. a person or thing that gives consolation She was a great comfort to him 7. a cause or matter of relief or satisfaction The patient's recovery was a comfort to the doctor 8. a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety He is a man who enjoys his comfort 9. something that promotes such a state His wealth allows him to enjoy a high degree of comfort 10. (chiefly in Midland and Southern US) a comforter or quilt 11. obsolete strengthening aid; assistance SYNONYMS 1. pacify, calm, solace, gladden. comfort, console, relieve, soothe imply assuaging sorrow, worry, discomfort, or pain. To comfort is to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook: to comfort a despairing person. console, a more formal word, means to make grief or distress seem lighter, by means of kindness and thoughtful attentions: to console a bereaved parent. relieve means to lighten, lessen, or remove pain, trouble, discomfort, or hardship: to relieve a needy person. soothe means to pacify or calm: to soothe a child. 1, 2. ease. 8. See ease.Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Derived formscomfortless adjective Word origin [1175–1225; (v.) ME comfortien, var. of confortien, conforten ‹ AF, OF conforter ‹ LL confortāre to strengthen, equiv. to con- con- + -fortāre v. deriv. of L fortis strong; (n.) ME ‹ AF, OF, n. deriv. of the v.]

Examples of 'comfort' in a sentence comfort

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins. We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more… So he sang to me to try and comfort me. The Guardian (2015)It is written for comfort rather than fireworks. The Guardian (2016)She comforted her family and friends as death approached. The Guardian (2016) Certainly looks that way from the comfort of home. The Guardian (2022)For workers, the uniform changes are not just about comfort. The Guardian (2015)But that goal will give him a little bit of relief and comfort. Times, Sunday Times (2013)You provide excitement when she needs it and comfort when she is low. The Sun (2012)They are easy to make and comforting to eat. Times, Sunday Times (2011)And when you feel happy you are less likely to turn to food for comfort or solace. Times, Sunday Times (2010)What comforts me is less the company of men than being an individual with a role to fulfil in life. Times, Sunday Times (2006)

More idioms containing comfort

cold comfort

COBUILD Collocations comfort

comfort level comfort of home crave comfort enhance comfort enjoy the comfort of extra comfort false comfort familiar comfort find comfort give comfort great comfort improve comfort interior comfort modern comforts offer comfort passenger comfort provide comfort psychological comfort reasonable comfort relative comfort sacrifice comfort scant comfort seek comfort sense of comfort spiritual comfort take comfort Show more...

Trends of comfort

Visible years: Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

In other languages comfort

British English: comfort NOUN /ˈkʌmfət/ Comfort is being relaxed, and having no pain or worry.

• American English: comfort /ˈkʌmfərt/
• Brazilian Portuguese: conforto
• Chinese: 舒适
• European Spanish: comodidad
• French: confort
• German: Komfort
• Italian: comodità
• Japanese: 快適
• Korean: 편안함
• European Portuguese: conforto
• Latin American Spanish: comodidad
• Thai: ความสบาย

British English: comfort VERB /ˈkʌmfət/ If you comfort someone, you make them feel less worried, unhappy, or upset, for example by saying kind things to them.Ned put his arm around her, trying to comfort her.

• American English: comfort /ˈkʌmfərt/
• Brazilian Portuguese: consolar
• Chinese: 安慰
• European Spanish: consolar
• French: réconforter
• German: trösten
• Italian: consolare
• Japanese: 慰める
• Korean: 위로하다
• European Portuguese: consolar
• Latin American Spanish: consolar
• Thai: ปลอบโยน

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Browse nearby entries comfort

• comfiness
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• comfiture
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Related terms of comfort

• added comfort
• cold comfort
• comfort food
• comfort level
• comfort stop
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