bear
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: bâr
ipa: /bɛə/
ipa: /bɛː/
ipa: /bɛəɹ/
ipa: /beː/
ipa: [beː~bɛː]
ipa: /ˈbiːə(r)/
ipa: /bɛː(r)/
note: without the cheer–chair merger
ipa: /beə/
note: New Zealand, cheer–chair merger
ipa: /biə/
ipa: /beɹ/
note: Lancashire, fair–fur merger
ipa: /bɜː(ɹ)/
rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)
homophone: bare
homophone: beer (cheer–chair merger)
homophone: burr (fair–fur merger)
ipa: /bɑɹ/
homophone: bar stripped-by-parse_pron_post_template_fn
other: /bɛə(ɹ)/
enpr: bâr
ipa: /bɛə/
ipa: /bɛː/
ipa: /bɛəɹ/
ipa: /beː/
ipa: [beː~bɛː]
ipa: /ˈbiːə(r)/
ipa: /bɛː(r)/
note: without the cheer–chair merger
ipa: /beə/
note: New Zealand, cheer–chair merger
ipa: /biə/
ipa: /beɹ/
note: Lancashire, fair–fur merger
ipa: /bɜː(ɹ)/
rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)
homophone: bare
homophone: beer (cheer–chair merger)
homophone: burr (fair–fur merger)
ipa: /bɑɹ/
homophone: bar stripped-by-parse_pron_post_template_fn
Forms: form: bears
form: bearing
form: bore
form: bare
form: borne
form: bore
form: born
form: no-table-tags
form: glossary
form: bear
form: bear
form: bore
form: bare
form: bear
form: bearest
form: bore
form: bare
form: borest
form: barest
form: bears
form: beareth
form: bore
form: bare
form: bear
form: bore
form: bare
form: bear
form: bore
form: bare
form: bear
form: -
form: bearing
form: borne
form: bore
form: born
Etymology: From Middle English beren (“carry, bring forth”), from Old English beran (“to carry, bear, bring”), from Proto-West Germanic *beran, from Proto-Germanic *beraną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti, from *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”).
Akin to Old High German beran (“carry”), Dutch baren, Norwegian Bokmål bære, Norwegian Nynorsk bera, German gebären, Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌰𐌽 (bairan), Sanskrit भरति (bharati), Latin ferō, and Ancient Greek φέρω (phérō), Albanian bie (“to bring, to bear”), Russian брать (bratʹ, “to take”), Persian بردن (bordan, “to take, to carry”).
Senses: examples: text: They came bearing gifts.
text: Judging from the look on his face, he wasn't bearing good news.
text: The little boat bore us to our destination.
text: This plant's light and fluffy seeds may be borne by the wind to remote islands.
text: what the market will bear
text: I'll bear your logs the while.
ref: 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
text: In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.
ref: 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266:
text: They surged about her, caught her up and bore her.
ref: 1954 March, Ray Bradbury, “All Summer in a Day”, in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, volume 6, number 3, page 122:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
examples: text: the right to bear arms
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To carry (weapons, flags or symbols of rank, office, etc.) upon one's person, especially visibly; to be equipped with (weapons, etc.).
examples: text: The queen bore the royal scepter and crown as she processed into the hall.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To wear (garments, pieces of jewellery, etc.).
examples: text: The scan showed that the ewe was bearing twins.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To carry (offspring in the womb), to be pregnant (with).
raw_tags: of a woman or female animal
examples: text: She still bears the scars from a cycling accident.
text: The stone bears a short inscription.
text: This bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.
text: […] male stag-beetles often bear wounds from the huge mandibles of other males.
ref: 1859 November 24, Charles Darwin, “Natural Selection”, in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 88:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To have or display (a mark or other feature).
examples: text: The shield bore a red cross.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To display (a particular heraldic device) on a shield or coat of arms; to be entitled to wear or use (a heraldic device) as a coat of arms.
examples: text: He bore the look of a defeated man.
text: The body was unclothed, and bore the appearance of being washed up by the sea.
ref: 1930, Essex Chronicle, 18 April 9/5:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To present or exhibit (a particular outward appearance); to have (a certain look).
examples: text: The school still bears the name of its founder.
text: […] imitations that bear the same name as the things […]
ref: 2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 234b:
text: Heinrich Olbers described the paradox that bears his name in 1823.
ref: 2013, D. Goldberg, Universe in Rearview Mirror, iii. 99:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To have (a name, title, or designation).
examples: text: The dictator bears a terrible reputation for cruelty.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To possess or enjoy (recognition, renown, a reputation, etc.); to have (a particular price, value, or worth).
examples: text: The bond bears a fixed interest rate of 3.5%.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To have (interest or a specified rate of interest) stipulated in its terms.
qualifier: loan
raw_tags: of an investment
examples: text: Only the male Indian elephant bears tusks.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To have (an appendage, organ, etc.) as part of the body; (of a part of the body) to have (an appendage).
raw_tags: of a person or animal
examples: text: to bear a grudge, to bear ill will
text: the ancient grudge I bear him
ref: c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To carry or hold in the mind; to experience, entertain, harbour (an idea, feeling, or emotion).
examples: text: The brothers had always borne one another respect.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To feel and show (respect, reverence, loyalty, etc.) to, towards, or unto a person or thing.
examples: text: to bear life
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To possess inherently (a quality, attribute, power, or capacity); to have and display as an essential characteristic.
examples: text: The punishment bears no relation to the crime.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To have (a relation, correspondence, etc.) to something else.
raw_tags: of a thing
examples: text: His achievements bear testimony to his ability.
text: The jury could see he was bearing false witness.
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To give (written or oral testimony or evidence); (figurative) to provide or constitute (evidence or proof), give witness.
examples: text: This word no longer bears its original meaning.
text: Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform.
ref: 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To have (a certain meaning, intent, or effect).
examples: text: She bore herself well throughout the ordeal.
text: Thus must thou thy body bear.
ref: c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
text: Hath he borne himself penitently in prison?
ref: c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To behave or conduct (oneself).
examples: text: Every man should bear rule in his own house.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Esther 1:22:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To possess and use, to exercise (power or influence); to hold (an office, rank, or position).
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To carry a burden or burdens.
examples: text: Bear them to my house.
ref: c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
glosses: To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
To take or bring (a person) with oneself; to conduct.
examples: text: This stone bears most of the weight.
glosses: To support, sustain, or endure.
To support or sustain; to hold up.
examples: text: The pain is too much for me to bear.
text: It doesn’t bear thinking about.
text: I would never move to Texas — I can't bear heat.
text: This reasoning will not bear much analysis.
text: Please bear with me as I try to find the book you need.
text: I cannot, cannot bear; ’tis past , ’tis done; / Perish this impious , this detested son; […]
ref: 1700, John Dryden, “Meleager and Atalanta”, in The poetical works, volume 4, William Pickering, published 1852, page 169:
text: Man is born to bear.
ref: 1715–1720, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book XXIV”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC:
text: […] We are fools and slight;
⁠We mock thee when we do not fear:
⁠But help thy foolish ones to bear;
Help thy vain worlds to bear thy light.
ref: 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Prologue”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
text: Events that might cause suffering in others may be borne without complaint by someone who believes that the disease is part of his or her family identity and hence inevitable. Even diseases for which no heritable basis is known may be borne easily by a person because others in the family have been similarly afflicted.
ref: 1982 March 18, Eric J. Cassel[l], “The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Medicine”, in The New England Journal of Medicine, volume 306, number 11, →DOI, page 642:
text: There's this fear deep inside of me / Like there's something I cannot see / And it's coming after me / It's hard to bear
ref: 2024, Jackie Evancho, “Behind My Eyes”, in Solla:
glosses: To support, sustain, or endure.
To endure or withstand (hardship, scrutiny, etc.); to tolerate; to be patient (with).
synonyms: word: brook
word: endure
word: abear
word: abide
word: aby
word: accept
word: allow
word: bear
word: bide
word: brook
word: dree
word: endure
word: forbear
word: go along with
word: live with
word: pass
word: pocket
word: pouch
word: put up with
word: stand
word: stick
word: stomach
word: suffer
word: swallow
word: take
word: take sitting down
word: thole
word: tolerate
word: undergang
word: undergo
qualifier: now transitive outside certain set patterns such as 'bear with'; formerly also intransitive; now transitive outside certain set patterns such as 'bear with'; formerly also intransitive
examples: text: The hirer must bear the cost of any repairs.
text: He shall bear their iniquities.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 53:11:
text: What have you gotten there under your arm, Daughter? somewhat, I hope, that will bear your Charges in your Pilgrimage.
ref: 1753, John Dryden, The Spanish Friar: or, the Double Discovery, Tonson and Draper, p. 64:
glosses: To support, sustain, or endure.
To sustain, or be answerable for (blame, expense, responsibility, etc.).
synonyms: meet
examples: text: In all criminal cases the most favourable interpretation should be put on words that they can possibly bear.
ref: 1724, Drapier's Letters, Jonathan Swift:
glosses: To support, sustain, or endure.
To admit or be capable of (a meaning); to suffer or sustain without violence, injury, or change.
examples: text: This storm definitely bears monitoring.
text: An unusually high percentage of the hundreds of gay men who participated in the experimental trials for this vaccine (1978-1980) developed AIDS. Since these trials occurred at about the same time as the first AIDS cases in the same cities […] a possible connection at least bears careful study.
ref: 1989 August 19, Bob Lederer, “Hiding Behind HIV”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 6, page 10:
glosses: To support, sustain, or endure.
To warrant, justify the need for.
examples: text: […] admitted to that equal sky, / His faithful dog shall bear him company.
ref: 1732–4, Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man, Longmans, Green & Co, 1879, p. 10
glosses: To support, keep up, or maintain.
To afford, to be something to someone, to supply with something.
examples: text: […] and he finds the Pleasure, and Credit of bearing a Part in the Conversation, and of having his Reasons sometimes approved and hearken'd to.
ref: 1693, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education, § 98:
glosses: To support, keep up, or maintain.
To carry on, or maintain; to have.
examples: text: The rope has frayed where it bears on the rim of the wheel.
text: These men therefore bear hard upon the suspected party.
ref: 1711 September 25 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “FRIDAY, September 14, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 170; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:
glosses: To press or impinge upon.
To push, thrust, press.
qualifier: upon; or against; upon; or against
examples: text: to bring arguments to bear
text: How does this bear on the question?
glosses: To press or impinge upon.
To take effect; to have influence or force; to be relevant.
examples: text: The cannons were wheeled around to bear upon the advancing troops.
text: 2012, Ronald D. Utt, Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron
Constitution's gun crews crossed the deck to the already loaded larboard guns as Bainbridge wore the ship around on a larboard tack and recrossed his path in a rare double raking action to bring her guns to bear again on Java's damaged stern.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: To press or impinge upon.
Of a weapon, to be aimed at an enemy or other target.
qualifier: usually with on or upon
examples: text: In Troy she becomes Paris’ wife, bearing him several children, all of whom die in infancy.
text: The twins were borne by an Italian mother.
text: The powerful Bene Gesserit sisterhood for ninety generations has been manipulating bloodlines to produce the Kwisatz Haderach, a superbeing. On Caladan, Jessica, a member of the sisterhood and the bound concubine of Duke Leto Atreides, had been ordered to bear only daughters. Because of her love for the duke, she disobeyed and gave birth to a son: Paul, Paul Atreides.
ref: 1984, 10:44 from the start, in Dune (Science Fiction), spoken by Princess Irulan, →OCLC:
glosses: To produce, yield, give birth to.
To give birth to (someone or something) (may take the father of the direct object as an indirect object).
examples: text: This year our apple trees bore a good crop of fruit.
text: Betwixt two seasons comes th' auspicious air, / This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
ref: 1688, John Dryden, Britannia Rediviva:
glosses: To produce, yield, give birth to.
To produce or yield something, such as fruit or crops.
examples: text: Carry on past the church and then bear left at the junction.
text: By my readings, we're bearing due south, so we should turn about ten degrees east.
text: Great Falls bears north of Bozeman.
glosses: To be, or head, in a specific direction or azimuth (from somewhere).
examples: text: Some think to bear it by speaking a great word.
ref: 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Seeming Wise”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
text: She was […] found not guilty, through bearing of friends and bribing of the judge.
ref: April 5, 1549, Hugh Latimer, The Fifth Sermon Preached Before King Edward (probably not in original spelling)
glosses: To gain or win.
Derived terms: bearability
bearable
bear against
bear a grudge
bear a hand
bear away
bear away the bell
bear down
bear down on
bearer
bearess
bear false witness
bear fruit
bear hang
bear in
bearing sword
bear in mind
bear in on
bear in with
bearleap
bear off
bear off from
bear on
bear oneself
bear out
bear the brunt
bear the scars
bear up
bear upon
bear with
bear witness
Bernard
beware of Greeks bearing gifts
bring to bear
cross to bear
double-bearing
downbear
forbear
forthbear
grin and bear it
inbear
misbear
not bear thinking about
offbear
outbear
overbear
rebear
right to keep and bear arms
unbear
unbearability
underbear
upbear
withbear
Related terms: barrel
berth
birth