Meaning & use
baring
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“baring” is a form of “bare”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Taking away a covering so that something is open to view, especially part of the body.
Grammar: Takes an object: baring his arms.
Patterns
- bare something
The sunbather was baring her shoulders to the sun.
The dog snarled, baring its teeth.
He walked out baring his chest in the cold wind.
verbtransitivefigurative
Openly revealing something private such as feelings, secrets or thoughts.
Grammar: Often with soul, heart or secret as the object.
Patterns
- bare your soul
- bare something to someone
She ended the letter by baring her heart to him.
The singer is baring her soul in the new album.
The witness was baring painful secrets in court.
Word forms
| base form | bare |
|---|---|
| third person singular | bares |
| past tense | bared |
| past participle | bared |
Common combinations
- baring teeth
- The cat hissed, baring its teeth at the stranger.
- baring his soul
- He kept baring his soul to anyone who listened.
- baring all
- The memoir is baring all about her early years.
- baring a shoulder
- The dress was baring one shoulder.
- baring fangs
- The wolf was baring its fangs in the dark.
Synonyms and how they differ
- exposing
- Exposing can suggest revealing something hidden or harmful, while baring stresses uncovering on purpose.
- revealing
- Revealing is the broadest word and works for facts, while baring fits body parts or feelings.
- uncovering
- Uncovering stresses removing a cover, often to discover something.
- showing
- Showing is neutral and everyday, where baring adds a sense of exposure or vulnerability.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: baring or bearing?
baring vs bearing
Bearing is the -ing form of bear, meaning to carry, endure or give birth. It is pronounced the same as baring, but the meaning is different.
Practice
The dog backed into the corner, ______ its teeth at the visitor.
Choose one answer.
Baring means uncovering to show. Bearing is carrying, barring means blocking or excluding, and bearding is not used this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “baring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.