Meaning & use

bear

verb·Academic

To carry, support, or endure something, especially a weight, responsibility, or hardship.

See it in a sentence

She bore the responsibility of caring for her aging parents alone.

The old bridge can no longer bear the weight of heavy trucks.

A note on using this word

Irregular verb: bear, bore, borne. Do not confuse with "born," which is used only for birth, as in "she was born in May."

Words with a similar meaning

endurecarrywithstand

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

A large, heavy mammal with thick fur, found in forests and mountains across much of the world.

A brown bear wandered near the campsite looking for food.

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