Comfort Definition & Meaning

American

British

Idioms

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms comfort American [kuhm-fert] / ˈkʌm fərt /

verb (used with object)

1. to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to.

   They tried to comfort her after her loss.

   Synonyms: ease, gladden, solace, calm, pacify

2. to make physically comfortable.

   Synonyms: ease

3. Obsolete. to aid; support or encourage.

noun

1. relief in affliction; consolation; solace.

   Her presence was a comfort to him.

2. a feeling of relief or consolation.

   Her forgiveness afforded him great comfort.

3. a person or thing that gives consolation.

   She was a great comfort to him.

4. a cause or matter of relief or satisfaction.

   The patient's recovery was a comfort to the doctor.

5. a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety.

   He is a man who enjoys his comfort.

6. something that promotes such a state.

   His wealth allows him to enjoy a high degree of comfort.

7. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a comforter or quilt.

8. Obsolete. strengthening aid; assistance.

comfort British / ˈkʌmfət /

noun

1. 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. to ease the pain of; soothe; cheer

2. to bring physical ease to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 comfort Idioms

1. see cold comfort; creature comforts; too close for comfort.

Related Words

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. See ease.

Other Word Forms

• comforting adjective
• comfortingly adverb
• comfortless adjective
• comfortlessly adverb
• comfortlessness noun
• uncomforted adjective

Etymology

Origin of comfort

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb comfortien, from Anglo-French, Old French conforter, from Late Latin confortāre “to strengthen,” equivalent to con- con- ( def. ) + -fortāre, verb suffix formed from Latin fortis “strong”; noun derived from the verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Because when it’s good, steakhouse meatloaf is less “comfort food” and more quiet luxury.

From Salon

“She’s a big crime fan and she finds it very comforting. She said, ‘There’s absolutely no question you must do this role.’

From Los Angeles Times

The children’s section still has the comforting smell of old paper and Elmer’s glue.

From Literature

Google at least has the comfort of an already giant and profitable ad business that generates nearly $300 billion a year in revenue.

From The Wall Street Journal

While that might comfort energy importers and economists concerned about inflation, Nasser’s response to an analyst’s question about the plausibility of U.S. proposals for its navy to escort shipping through the strait was less encouraging.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• amenity
• contentment
• convenience
• enjoyment
• happiness
• luxury
• pleasure
• relaxation
• relief
• satisfaction
• warmth
• well-being

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.