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Meaning & use

bared

verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/beəd/
US/berd/

“bared” is a form of “bare”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    Uncovered something so that it can be seen, such as skin, teeth or a body part.

    Grammar: Takes an object: she bared her teeth. Past tense and past participle of bare.

    Patterns

    • bared something
    • bared teeth

    The dog bared its teeth at the stranger.

    He bared his arm so the nurse could give the injection.

    The wind bared the roots of the old tree.

  2. verbtransitivefigurative

    Revealed private thoughts, feelings or secrets to others.

    Grammar: Takes an object such as soul or heart: she bared her soul.

    Patterns

    • bared your soul to someone
    • bared the truth

    In the letter she bared her soul to her sister.

    The witness bared the whole story in court.

    He bared his fears to his therapist.

Word forms

base formbare
third person singularbares
-ing formbaring

Common combinations

bared teeth
The wolf stood with bared teeth.
bared his soul
He bared his soul in the interview.
bared her shoulders
The dress bared her shoulders.
bared the truth
The report bared the truth about the scandal.
bared to the waist
The workers were bared to the waist in the heat.

Synonyms and how they differ

exposed
Exposed is broader and can mean left open to danger or weather, while bared suggests deliberately uncovering.
revealed
Revealed is for showing hidden facts, while bared is more physical or emotional and more vivid.
uncovered
Uncovered is neutral and plain, while bared has a bolder, more dramatic tone.
disclosed
Disclosed is formal and used for facts and information, not teeth or skin.

Opposites

coveredhid

Word family

bare adjective
without covering or decoration
barely adverb
only just, hardly
barefoot adjective
with nothing on the feet
baring noun
the act of uncovering, as in baring of teeth

Commonly confused: bared or bear? bared or bard?

bared vs bear

Bear is the animal and also means to carry or endure. Bared and beared are different: the past of bear is bore, not bared.

bared vs bard

A bard is a poet, with a similar look but a different sound and meaning.

Practice

The cat arched its back and ___ its teeth when the dog approached.

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