burden
1 Americannoun
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that which is carried; load.
a horse's burden of rider and pack.
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that which is borne with difficulty; obligation; onus.
the burden of leadership.
- Synonyms:
- impediment, encumbrance, weight
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Nautical.
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the weight of a ship's cargo.
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the carrying capacity of a ship.
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Mining. overburden.
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Metallurgy. the minerals charged into a blast furnace or steelmaking furnace.
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Accounting. overhead.
noun
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something that is carried; load
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something that is exacting, oppressive, or difficult to bear
the burden of responsibility
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nautical
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the cargo capacity of a ship
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the weight of a ship's cargo
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verb
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(sometimes foll by up) to put or impose a burden on; load
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to weigh down; oppress
the old woman was burdened with cares
noun
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a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a ballad or similar song; chorus or refrain
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the principal or recurrent theme of a speech, book, etc
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another word for bourdon
Synonym Usage
See load.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have burdenedperfect
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has burdenedperfect 3rd person singular
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is burdeningprogressive 3rd person singular
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are burdeningprogressive
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has been burdeningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been burdeningperfect progressive
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am burdeningprogressive 1st person singular
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burdeningparticiple
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burdenssingular 3rd person
Past
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had burdenedperfect
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were burdeningprogressive plural
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burdenedparticiple
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burdenedsimple
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had been burdeningperfect progressive
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was burdeningprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of burden1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English, birthen, birden, Old English byrthen; akin to German Bürde, Gothic baurthei; see also bear 1
Origin of burden2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bordoun, burdoun “drone, bass,” from Old French bourdon “droning sound, instrument making such a sound”
Explanation
Getting hired as the assistant to a pastry chef seemed like a dream come true. But one week and 100 cupcakes later, it’s become a hard-to-bear burden accompanied by a permanent stomachache. Burden is one of those words that doubles as a noun and a verb. Defined as something you carry or withstand with much difficulty when used as a noun, and as the act of weighing down, overloading, or oppressing when used as a verb, it’s a word with a negative charge. Now that you know what it means, you’re equipped to make sure you don’t take on unnecessary burdens (getting pressured into always carrying your neighbor’s groceries upstairs), or become one yourself!
Vocabulary lists containing burden
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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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.
The Bank of Japan is widely expected to raise interest rates this month to mitigate the burden of rising costs as policymakers grow more worried that the fallout from the conflict will accelerate underlying inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
So Pulisic has tried to turn the burden into a gift.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
Zverev assumed the mantle as title favourite - and, despite the burden of expectation, has managed to deliver at long last.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
In countries like Egypt, where sunlight is ample and the price of oil has created a massive burden on consumers, renewable energy is an absolute necessity.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
“I know you’re not a little kid, but Baba and I never want to burden you with our problems.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
