comfort

1 of 2

verb

com·​fort ˈkəm(p)-fərt How to pronounce comfort (audio)
comforted; comforting; comforts

transitive verb

1
: to give strength and hope to : cheer
comforted by the knowledge that the program will be fully funded
2
: to ease the grief or trouble of : console
The mother comforted her crying child.
The bereaved families of the victims were comforted by friends.
comfortingly adverb

comfort

2 of 2

noun

1
: strengthening aid:
a
: assistance, support
accused of giving aid and comfort to the enemy
b
: consolation in time of trouble or worry : solace
He turned to her for comfort when he lost his job.
2
a
: a feeling of relief or encouragement
It's a comfort to know that I can rely on you for help.
b
: contented well-being
a life of ease and comfort
3
: a satisfying or enjoyable experience
Seeing her son again after so many years was a great comfort.
4
: one that gives or brings comfort
all the comforts of home
Her grandchildren were always a great comfort to her.
comfortless adjective

Examples of comfort in a Sentence

Verb Our family was comforted by the outpouring of support from the community. We can comfort ourselves with the thought that the worst is over. Noun These boots provide warmth and comfort in the coldest temperatures. The car's seats are designed for comfort. The suites combine comfort with convenience. The drug gave some comfort to the patient. I found a cozy chair where I could read in comfort. He turned to her for comfort and support when he lost his job. They were great comforts to each other during that difficult time.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The final scene of the hour is one of Bones' best: Booth comforted Brennan with a tiny plastic pig. Kelly Connolly, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024 There was free food, too, most notably a supremely comforting one-pot rice dish, perloo, a Lowcountry staple with roots in West Africa. Eric Kim, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Then the Hapsburgs made the comforting practice their own, wooing locals with the striking, labyrinthine Széchenyi and Gellért complexes that continue to draw travelers from all over the world. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 Forgive us for not being too comforted by the idea that the Biden administration is risking the lives of American service members on the hope that Hamas cares about the well-being of civilians. The Editors, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 Funerals can be comforting and unifying for family members. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Plum tomatoes, onions, extra-virgin olive oil, and garlic harmonize to create a truly comforting flavor profile that’s right at home on your next bowl of pasta. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024 Which means seeing Israelis as well as Palestinians—and not simply the mother comforting her children as the bombs fall and the essayist reaching out across the divide, but far harsher and more unsettling perspectives. Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 When the clip picks up, Jasmine is backstage being comforted by her costar, Nikki. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
No matter how active your trip is, these shoes will prepare you to take it all on with style and comfort, thanks to supportive midsoles, adjustable straps, and even an odor-controlling exterior. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2024 The group discussed the pros and cons and concluded that staying in China would provide more comfort and stability. Christina Knight, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2024 This emphasis on comfort and accessibility is something that deputy aviation director with the City of Phoenix aviation department, Matthew Heil, said project planners have focused on. Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 It is also equipped with four stabilizer fins that ensure comfort on the waves. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024 Nike Air Max 270 Nike’s legendary Air gets a stylish update in the brand’s first lifestyle Air Max, which features a lightweight, airy upper and low-cut collar to bring you unparalleled comfort without sacrificing aesthetics. Anna Tingley, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 These investors have likely drawn comfort from Iger’s return. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 Choi recommends reaching out to your bridal party early to gauge comfort levels with everything from price to colors. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 The importance of meals Antony McNeil, Singapore Airlines’ food and beverage director, told me that meal timing and composition make a big difference to passenger comfort on extra-long flights. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comfort.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English comforten, conforten "to strengthen spiritually, inspire with courage, exort, cheer up, encourage, invigorate," borrowed from Anglo-French conforter, comforter, borrowed from Late Latin confortāre "to strengthen, restore strength to, invigorate, cure" (Medieval Latin also "to cheer, reassure"), from Latin con- con- + Late Latin -fortāre, verbal derivative of Latin fortis "strong, robust" — more at fort

Noun

Middle English comfort, counfort "invigoration, encouragement, assurance, feeling of relief, pleasure, gratification," borrowed from Anglo-French comfort, confort, cunfort "solace, encouragement, enjoyment, satisfaction," noun derivative of conforter, comforter "to strengthen, encourage, solace" — more at comfort entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of comfort was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near comfort

Cite this Entry

“Comfort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comfort. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

comfort

1 of 2 verb
com·​fort ˈkəm(p)-fərt How to pronounce comfort (audio)
1
: to give strength and hope to : cheer
2
: to ease the grief or trouble of : console
comfortingly adverb

comfort

2 of 2 noun
1
: acts or words that comfort
2
: the feeling of the one that is comforted
find comfort in a mother's love
3
: something that makes a person comfortable
the comforts of home
comfortless adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on comfort

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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