Meaning & use
bear down
To press or push forcefully on something, or to apply intense effort and concentration to a task.
See it in a sentence
The doctor told her to bear down firmly during each contraction.
With the deadline hours away, the whole team bore down and finished the report.
A note on using this word
Bear down can describe physical pressure, as in childbirth, or figuratively applying strong effort and focus, as in bear down on a project.
Words with a similar meaning
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