bear
1to hold up; support: to bear the weight of the roof.
to hold or remain firm under (a load): The roof will not bear the strain of his weight.
to bring forth (young); give birth to: to bear a child.
to produce by natural growth: a tree that bears fruit.
to hold up under; be capable of: His claim doesn't bear close examination.
to press or push against: The crowd was borne back by the police.
to hold or carry (oneself, one's body, one's head, etc.): to bear oneself erectly.
to conduct (oneself): to bear oneself bravely.
to sustain without yielding or suffering injury; tolerate (usually used in negative constructions, unless qualified): I can't bear your nagging. I can hardly bear to see her suffering so.
to be fit for or worthy of: It doesn't bear repeating.
to carry; bring: to bear gifts.
to carry in the mind or heart: to bear love;to bear malice.
to transmit or spread (gossip, tales, etc.).
to lead; guide; take: They bore him home.
to have and be entitled to: to bear title.
to accept or have, as an obligation: to bear responsibility;to bear the cost.
to stand in (a relation or ratio); have or show correlatively: the relation that price bears to profit.
to possess, as a quality or characteristic; have in or on: to bear traces;to bear an inscription.
to have and use; exercise: to bear authority;to bear sway.
to tend in a course or direction; move; go: to bear west;to bear left at the fork in the road.
to be located or situated: The lighthouse bears due north.
to bring forth young or fruit: Next year the tree will bear.
bear down,
to press or weigh down.
to strive harder; intensify one's efforts: We can't hope to finish unless everyone bears down.
Nautical. to approach from windward, as a ship: The cutter was bearing down the channel at twelve knots.
bear down on / upon
to press or weigh down on.
to strive toward.
to approach something rapidly.
Nautical. to approach (another vessel) from windward: The sloop bore down on us, narrowly missing our stern.
bear off,
Nautical. to keep (a boat) from touching or rubbing against a dock, another boat, etc.
Nautical. to steer away.
Backgammon. to remove the stones from the board after they are all home.
bear on / upon to affect, relate to, or have connection with; be relevant to: This information may bear on the case.
bear out, to substantiate; confirm: The facts bear me out.
bear up, to endure; face hardship bravely: It is inspiring to see them bearing up so well.
bear with, to be patient or forbearing with: Please bear with me until I finish the story.
Idioms about bear
bear false witness. See entry at bear false witness.
bear witness. See entry at bear witness.
bring to bear, to concentrate on with a specific purpose: Pressure was brought to bear on those with overdue accounts.
Origin of bear
1synonym study For bear
confusables note For bear
Other words for bear
Words Nearby bear
Other definitions for bear (2 of 3)
any of the plantigrade, carnivorous or omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae, having massive bodies, coarse heavy fur, relatively short limbs, and almost rudimentary tails.
any of various animals resembling the bear, as the ant bear.
a gruff, burly, clumsy, bad-mannered, or rude person.
a person who believes that market prices, especially of stocks, will decline (opposed to bull).
Informal. a person who shows great ability, enthusiasm, stamina, etc.: a bear for physics.
Bear, Astronomy. either of two constellations, Ursa Major or Ursa Minor.
Informal. a player at cards who rarely bluffs.
Bear. Russia.
having to do with or marked by declining prices, as of stocks: bear market.
Stock Exchange. to force prices down in (a market, stock, etc.).
Origin of bear
2Other words from bear
- bearlike, adjective
Other definitions for Bear (3 of 3)
Mount Bear, a mountain in southern Alaska, in the Saint Elias Mountains. 14,831 feet (4,520 meters).
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use bear in a sentence
While Neumann’s job meant she was involved, Troye was consistently bearing witness not just early in the outbreak, but through its resurgence this summer, when virtually every other First World country had things much more under control.
A devastating picture of Trump’s coronavirus response — from a firsthand witness | Aaron Blake | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostAs wildfires bear down on the West Coast, many have lost their homes or had to evacuate.
California wildfires may give way to massive mudslides | Ula Chrobak | September 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceBernstein notes that while further study is required, there is evidence that air pollution affects birth outcomes—babies are more like to be born pre-term or at low birth weights—and development.
Since they’re born in freshwater streams but then migrate to the sea to mature, salmon serve as a link between saltwater and freshwater ecosystems, bringing nutrients from the oceans inland and vice versa.
This Startup Is Growing Sushi-Grade Salmon From Cells in a Lab | Vanessa Bates Ramirez | September 16, 2020 | Singularity HubHe was born in Scranton and grew up and still resides in Wilmington, a short drive down Interstate 95 from Philadelphia.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic | Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner | September 16, 2020 | Washington Post
“If Charleston harbor needs improvement, let the commerce of Charleston bear the burden,” he said.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern | Lloyd Green | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHe said, “I am breaking my heart over this story, and cannot bear to finish it.”
Once again he accused the West of being unfair to Russia, bringing back his favorite metaphor, the Russian bear.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug | Anna Nemtsova | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMaybe our dear bear should sit quietly, not chase piglets and just eat berries and honey.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug | Anna Nemtsova | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPutin suggested that all the West wanted was to turn the Russian bear into “taxidermy.”
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug | Anna Nemtsova | December 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMany British Ferns evidence a marked tendency to “sport,” and this is a fact which the beginner should always bear in mind.
How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard BastinThe bear laughed and joined his companion, and the torpedo thundered away.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeThis may be done by taking the humming tone and bringing to bear upon it a strong pressure of energy.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickThe left heel followed like lightning, and the right paw also slipped, letting the bear again fall heavily on the ice below.
The Giant of the North | R.M. BallantyneThe bear watched him narrowly with its wicked little eyes, though it did not see fit to cease its paw-licking.
The Giant of the North | R.M. Ballantyne
British Dictionary definitions for bear (1 of 3)
/ (bɛə) /
to support or hold up; sustain
to bring or convey: to bear gifts
to take, accept, or assume the responsibility of: to bear an expense
(past participle born in passive use except when foll by by) to give birth to: to bear children
(also intr) to produce by or as if by natural growth: to bear fruit
to tolerate or endure: she couldn't bear him
to admit of; sustain: his story does not bear scrutiny
to hold in the conscious mind or in one's feelings: to bear a grudge; I'll bear that idea in mind
to show or be marked with: he still bears the scars
to transmit or spread: to bear gossip
to render or supply (esp in the phrase bear witness)
to conduct or manage (oneself, the body, etc): she bore her head high
to have, be, or stand in (relation or comparison): his account bears no relation to the facts
(intr) to move, be located, or lie in a specified direction: the way bears east
to have by right; be entitled to (esp in the phrase bear title)
bear a hand to give assistance
bring to bear to bring into operation or effect: he brought his knowledge to bear on the situation
Origin of bear
1British Dictionary definitions for bear (2 of 3)
/ (bɛə) /
any plantigrade mammal of the family Ursidae : order Carnivora (carnivores). Bears are typically massive omnivorous animals with a large head, a long shaggy coat, and strong claws: See also black bear, brown bear, polar bear Related adjective: ursine
any of various bearlike animals, such as the koala and the ant bear
a clumsy, churlish, or ill-mannered person
a teddy bear
stock exchange
a speculator who sells in anticipation of falling prices to make a profit on repurchase
(as modifier): a bear market Compare bull 1 (def. 5)
(tr) to lower or attempt to lower the price or prices of (a stock market or a security) by speculative selling
Origin of bear
2British Dictionary definitions for Bear (3 of 3)
/ (bɛə) /
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with bear
In addition to the idioms beginning with bear
- bear a grudge
- bear down
- beard the lion
- bear fruit
- bear in mind
- bear one's cross
- bear out
- bear the brunt
- bear up
- bear with
also see:
- bring to bear
- cross as a bear
- cross to bear
- grin and bear it
- loaded for bear
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse