bear
to accept, tolerate, or endure something, especially something unpleasant
The strain must have been enormous but she bore it well.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
verb (bears, bearing, bore /, has borne )
1 to be able to accept something unpleasant without complaining:
The pain was difficult to bear.
2 to hold somebody or something up so that they do not fall:
The ice is too thin to bear your weight.
can't bear somebody or something to hate somebody or something:
I can't bear this music.
He can't bear having nothing to do.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
bear
I. bear1 S2 W2 /beə $ ber/ BrE AmE verb (past tense bore /bɔː $ bɔːr/, past participle borne /bɔːn $ bɔːrn/) [transitive]
[Word Family: verb: ↑bear; noun: ↑bearer; adverb: ↑bearably ≠ ↑unbearably; adjective: ↑bearable ≠ ↑unbearable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: beran]
1. DEAL WITH SOMETHING to bravely accept or deal with a painful, difficult, or upsetting situation SYN stand:
She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to bear the pain.
Overcrowding makes prison life even harder to bear.
Make the water as hot as you can bear.
The humiliation was more than he could bear.
Black people continue to bear the brunt of most racial violence (=have to deal with the most difficult or damaging part).
Passengers could be insulting, and stewardesses just had to grin and bear it (=accept it without complaining).
Experts were worried the financial system would not be able to bear the strain.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that they can’t stand something, rather than that they can't bear it:
▪ I couldn’t stand the noise any longer.
2. can’t bear something spoken
a) to be so upset about something that you feel unable to accept it or let it happen SYN can’t stand:
Please don’t leave me. I couldn’t bear it.
can’t bear the thought of (doing) something
I just can’t bear the thought of having to start all over.
can’t bear to do something
I can’t bear to see her cry.
can’t bear doing something
I couldn’t bear not seeing him again.
b) to dislike something or someone very much, often so that they make you feel annoyed or impatient SYN can’t stand:
Oh, I really can’t bear him.
can’t bear somebody doing something
He can’t bear people smoking while he’s eating.
can’t bear doing something
I can’t bear being cold.
3. bear (something) in mind to remember a fact or piece of information that is important or could be useful in the future SYN keep (something) in mind
bear in mind (that)
Bear in mind that some children will need help.
4. ACCEPT/BE RESPONSIBLE FOR formal to be responsible for or accept something
bear the costs/burden
Each company will bear half the costs of development.
Fares have gone up, perhaps to more than the market will bear.
bear the responsibility/blame etc
Developed countries bear much of the responsibility for environmental problems.
5. SUPPORT to be under something and support it SYN hold:
My leg was painful, and I wasn’t sure it would bear my weight.
a tray bearing a bottle and several glasses
a load-bearing wall
6. SIGN/MARK formal to have or show a sign, mark, or particular appearance, especially when this shows that something has happened or is true SYN have:
The letter bore no signature.
a car bearing diplomatic license plates
The labels bear a yellow and black symbol.
The town still bears the scars of the bombings during the war.
The store bears the hallmarks (=it has the qualities) of a family-owned business.
7. bear a resemblance/relation to somebody/something to be similar to someone or something else:
The child bore a striking resemblance to his father.
The things she says bear little relation to what she actually does.
8. BABY formal to give birth to a baby:
She might never be able to bear children.
bear somebody a child/son/daughter
She bore him three sons.
9. bear fruit
a) if a plan, decision etc bears fruit, it is successful, especially after a long period of time:
Charles’s diplomacy eventually bore fruit.
b) if a tree bears fruit, it produces fruit
10. ABLE TO BE EXAMINED/COMPARED ETC [often in negatives] to be suitable or good enough to be examined, compared, repeated etc without failing or being wrong:
The production figures did not bear scrutiny.
We believe our pupils’ results will bear comparison with any in Scotland.
The story is well known, but it certainly bears repeating.
11. something doesn’t bear thinking about used to say that something is so upsetting or shocking that you prefer not to think about it:
The long-term consequences of a nuclear leak don’t bear thinking about.
12. bear interest if a bank account, ↑investment etc bears interest, the bank pays you a particular amount of money for keeping your money in the account
13. CARRY literary to carry someone or something, especially something important:
The wedding guests arrived, bearing gifts.
The US Constitution states that the people have a right to bear arms.
14. bring pressure/influence to bear (on somebody/something) to use your influence or power to get what you want:
Unions can bring pressure to bear on governments.
15. bear witness/testimony to something formal to show that something is true or exists:
The empty workshops bear witness to the industrial past.
16. HAVE FEELINGS formal to have a particular feeling, especially a bad feeling
bear (somebody) a grudge (=continue to feel annoyed after a long time)
It was an accident. I don’t bear any grudges.
bear somebody no malice/ill will etc (=not feel angry)
He was just doing his job, and I bore him no malice.
17. bear right/left to turn towards the right or left:
When you reach the fork in the trail, bear left.
18. bear yourself formal to walk, stand etc in a particular way, especially when this shows your character:
She bore herself with great dignity.
19. WIND/WATER literary if wind, water, or air bears something, it carries it somewhere:
The sound of music was borne along on the wind.
20. NAME/TITLE formal to have a particular name or title:
He bore the name ‘Magnus’.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ bear + NOUN
▪ bear the pain He knew that he couldn’t bear the pain much longer.
▪ bear the heat/cold Some people find it hard to bear the heat in the summer.
▪ bear the strain/pressure Mark couldn’t bear the pressure of the job any longer.
■ phrases
▪ can hardly bear something (=find something very difficult or upsetting to do) He was so ashamed that he could hardly bear to look at her.
▪ be unable to bear something Fiona was unable to bear the thought of selling the house.
▪ be hard to bear The situation was very hard to bear.
▪ be more than somebody can bear He sometimes felt the grief was more than he could bear.
▪ bear the brunt of something (=be in the worst position and have to deal with it) Shareholders will bear the brunt of the company’s financial troubles.
▪ grin and bear it (=accept it without complaining) It was a horrible job but she had to grin and bear it.
bear down phrasal verb
1. bear down on somebody/something
a) to move quickly towards a person or place in a threatening way:
a storm bearing down on the island
b) to behave in a threatening or controlling way towards a person or group:
Federal regulators have been bearing down on campaign contributors.
2. to use all your strength and effort to push or press down on something
bear on/upon something phrasal verb formal
to relate to and possibly influence something:
the national policies which bear on these problems
bear somebody/sth↔ out phrasal verb
if facts or information bear out a claim, story, opinion etc, they help to prove that it is true SYN support:
Evidence bears out the idea that students learn best in small groups.
bear up phrasal verb
to show courage or determination during a difficult or unpleasant time:
How is he bearing up since the accident?
bear with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. bear with me spoken used to ask someone politely to wait while you find out information, finish what you are doing etc:
Bear with me a minute, and I’ll check if Mr Garrard’s in.
2. to be patient or continue to do something difficult or unpleasant:
It’s boring, but please bear with it.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
bear / beə r / / ber / verb ( bore , borne or US also born ) (ACCEPT)
B2 [ T ] to accept, tolerate, or endure something, especially something unpleasant:
The strain must have been enormous but she bore it well.
Tell me now! I can't bear the suspense !
It's your decision - you must bear the responsibility if things go wrong.
[ + to infinitive ] He couldn't bear to see the dog in pain.
[ + -ing verb ] I can't bear be ing bored.
not bear thinking about to be too unpleasant or frightening to think about:
"What if she'd been travelling any faster?" "It doesn't bear thinking about."
bear / beə r / / ber / verb [ T ] ( bore , borne or US also born ) (HAVE)
C1 to have or continue to have something:
Their baby bears a strong resemblance/an uncanny likeness to its grandfather.
The stone plaque bearing his name was smashed to pieces.
On display were boxing gloves that bore Rocky Marciano's signature.
[ + two objects ] I don't bear them any ill feeling (= I do not continue to be angry with or dislike them) .
Thank you for your advice, I'll bear it in mind (= will remember and consider it) .
bear / beə r / / ber / verb [ T ] ( bore , borne or US also born ) (SUPPORT)
to hold or support something:
The chair, too fragile to bear her weight , collapsed.
bear / beə r / / ber / verb [ T ] ( bore , borne or US also born ) formal (PRODUCE)
C2 to give birth to young, or (of a tree or plant) to give or produce fruit or flowers:
She had borne six children by the time she was 30.
[ + two objects ] When his wife bore him a child he could not hide his delight.
Most animals bear their young in the spring.
The pear tree they planted has never borne fruit .
bear / beə r / / ber / verb [ T ] ( bore , borne or US also born ) formal (BRING)
to carry and move something to a place:
At Christmas the family descend on the house bearing gifts .
Countless waiters bore trays of drinks into the room.
The sound of the ice cream van was borne into the office on the wind.
bear / beə r / / ber / verb [ I usually + adv/prep ] ( bore , borne or US also born ) (CHANGE DIRECTION)
C1 to change direction slightly so that you are going in a particular direction:
The path followed the coastline for several miles, then bore inland.
After you go past the church keep bearing left/right .
bear / beə r / / ber / verb ( bore , borne or US also born ) (SAY)
bear testimony/witness formal to say you know from your own experience that something happened or is true:
She bore witness to his patience and diligence.
If something bears testimony to a fact, it proves that it is true:
The iron bridge bears testimony to the skills developed in that era.
bear false witness old use
to lie
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
bear
I [be͟ə(r)]VERB USES
bears, bearing, bore, borne
(Please look at category 19 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)
1) VERB If you bear something somewhere, you carry it there or take it there. [LITERARY]
[V n adv/prep] They bore the oblong hardwood box into the kitchen and put it on the table.
Syn:
carry
Derived words:
-bearing COMB in ADJ ...food-bearing lorries.
2) VERB If you bear something such as a weapon, you hold it or carry it with you. [FORMAL]
[V n] ...the constitutional right to bear arms.
Derived words:
-bearing COMB in ADJ ...rifle-bearing soldiers. ...hundreds of flag-bearing marchers.
3) VERB If something bears the weight of something else, it supports the weight of that thing.
[V n] The ice was not thick enough to bear the weight of marching men.
Syn:
support
Derived words:
-bearing COMB in ADJ ...the load-bearing joints of the body.
4) VERB If something bears a particular mark or characteristic, it has that mark or characteristic.
[V n] The houses bear the marks of bullet holes and the streets are practically deserted.
[V n] ...note paper bearing the Presidential seal.
[V n] ...a corporation he owned that bore his name...
[V n] The room bore all the signs of a violent struggle.
5) VERB If you bear an unpleasant experience, you accept it because you are unable to do anything about it.
[V n] They will have to bear the misery of living in constant fear of war...
[V n] He bore his sufferings manfully.
Syn:
endure
6) VERB: with neg If you can't bear someone or something, you dislike them very much.
[V n/-ing] I can't bear people who make judgements and label me...
[V n/-ing] I can't bear having to think what I'm going to say...
[V to-inf] He can't bear to talk about it, even to me.
7) VERB If someone bears the cost of something, they pay for it.
[V n] Patients should not have to bear the costs of their own treatment.
8) VERB If you bear the responsibility for something, you accept responsibility for it.
[V n] If a woman makes a decision to have a child alone, she should bear that responsibility alone.
Syn:
accept
9) VERB: usu with brd-neg If one thing bears no resemblance or no relationship to another thing, they are not at all similar.
[V n] Their daily menus bore no resemblance whatsoever to what they were actually fed...
[V n] For many software packages, the price bears little relation to cost.
Syn:
have
10) VERB When a plant or tree bears flowers, fruit, or leaves, it produces them.
[V n] As the plants grow and start to bear fruit they will need a lot of water.
Syn:
produce
Derived words:
-bearing COMB in ADJ ...a strong, fruit-bearing apple tree.
11) VERB If something such as a bank account or an investment bears interest, interest is paid on it.
[V n] The eight-year bond will bear annual interest of 10.5%.
Derived words:
-bearing COMB in ADJ ...interest-bearing current accounts.
12) VERB When a woman bears a child, she gives birth to him or her. [OLD-FASHIONED]
[V n] Emma bore a son called Karl...
[V n n] She bore him a daughter, Suzanna.
13) VERB If you bear someone a feeling such as love or hate, you feel that emotion towards them. [LITERARY]
[V n] She bore no ill will. If people didn't like her, too bad...
[V n n] I have lived with him on the best terms and bear him friendship.
14) VERB If you bear yourself in a particular way, you move or behave in that way. [LITERARY]
[V pron-refl adv/prep] There was elegance and simple dignity in the way he bore himself.
Syn:
carry
15) VERB If you bear left or bear right when you are driving or walking along, you turn and continue in that direction.
[V adv] Go left onto the A107 and bear left into Seven Sisters Road.
Syn:
veer
16) → See also bore, borne
17) PHRASE: V inflects If you bring something to bear on a situation, you use it to deal with that situation.
British scientists have brought computer science to bear on this problem.
18) PHRASE: V inflects If you bring pressure or influence to bear on someone, you use it to try and persuade them to do something.
His companions brought pressure to bear on him, urging him to stop wasting money.
19) bear the brunt of → see brunt
bear comparison → see comparison
bear fruit → see fruit
grin and bear it → see grin
bear in mind → see mind
bear witness → see witness
Phrasal Verbs:
- bear down
- bear out
- bear up
- bear withII [be͟ə(r)]NOUN USES
bears
(Please look at category 3 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)
1) N-COUNT A bear is a large, strong wild animal with thick fur and sharp claws.
2) N-COUNT: usu pl On the stock market, bears are people who sell shares in expectation of a drop in price, in order to make a profit by buying them back again after a short time. Compare bull.
3) teddy bear → see teddy
→ See also polar bear
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
bear
2bear verb bears; bore /ˈboɚ/; borne /ˈboɚn/; bear·ing
1 : to accept or endure (something)
[+ obj]
• He bore [=tolerated] their insults patiently.
- usually used in questions and negative statements with can, can't, could, and couldn't
• He could hardly bear [=stand] the pain.
• I can't bear cold weather. [=I strongly dislike cold weather]
• I couldn't bear the suspense.
• I can't bear it if/when people behave like that!
• I can't bear doing this. = I can't bear to do this.
• How can you bear to see him again after the way he's treated you?
• I couldn't bear you to get the wrong idea.
• I couldn't bear his behavior. = His behavior was more than I could bear.
• I couldn't bear the thought/idea of moving again.
[no obj]
(US) - + for
• I couldn't bear for you to get the wrong idea.
2 [+ obj] : to be worthy of (something) : to deserve or allow (something)
• a joke too silly to bear repeating [=a joke that is too silly to be worth repeating]
• It's so horrible it doesn't bear thinking about! [=it's so horrible that I don't want to think about it]
• a symphony that can bear comparison with Beethoven's best
• a plan that will not bear [=withstand] close scrutiny/examination
• suspicious behavior that bears watching [=that should be watched]
3 [+ obj] : to assume or accept (something, such as cost or responsibility)
• The company agreed to bear the costs/expenses.
• The criminals must bear full responsibility for the deaths of these innocent people.
• Who will bear the blame for this tragedy?
4 [+ obj] somewhat formal + literary : to move while holding up and supporting (something) : carry
• The demonstrators bore banners and sang songs.
• They arrived bearing gifts.
• The leaves were borne aloft/away by the wind.
• disease-bearing germs [=germs that carry and spread diseases]
• germ-borne diseases [=diseases that are carried and spread by germs]
• He believes that citizens should have the right to bear arms. [=to carry weapons]
✦If something is borne in on/upon you, it is made very clear to you. This is a formal phrase.
• It was borne in on us by the new evidence that prompt action was very important. [=the new evidence strongly indicated that prompt action was very important]
5 [+ obj]
a : to have (something) as a feature or characteristic
• His leg was badly injured in the accident and it still bears [=shows] the scars/wounds/marks.
• His face bears marks/signs of suffering.
• Your conclusion bears [=has] no relation to the evidence.
• She bore a resemblance to her aunt. [=she looked like her aunt]
b : to have a surface on which something is written, drawn, etc.
• The cornerstone bears a Latin inscription.
• a letter bearing the date of 1900
• a shield bearing strange symbols
c : to have (a name, price, etc.)
• He bore the name (of) John.
• The store sells imported goods bearing [=having, with] high prices.
d : to have or hold (a feeling) in the mind
• She still bears a grudge against him. = She still bears him a grudge.
• She says she bears him no resentment for the way he treated her.
• I can't deny the love I still bear [=feel] for her.
6 [+ obj]
a formal : to give birth to (a child)
• She has borne three children.
• She has borne her husband three children.
b : to produce (something)
• a bank account that bears interest = an interest-bearing bank account
• a bush that bears red flowers
• trees that bear fruit
- see also bear fruit (below)
7 [+ obj] : to support the weight of (something)
• How much weight is that wall able to bear?
8 [no obj] : to go, move, or turn in a specified direction
• Bear south.
• The road bears (to the) right.
• When you get to the fork in the road, you should bear [=turn] left.
Do not confuse bear with bare.
bear down [phrasal verb] US : to use all of your strength and effort to do something : to try very hard to do something
• The pitcher bore down and struck out the last batter.
• If we're going to finish on time, we really have to bear down.
bear down on [phrasal verb]
1 bear down on (something) : to push or lean down on (something)
• The old man bore down heavily on his cane.
• She bore down hard on her pencil.
2 bear down on (someone) : to place pressure on (someone)
• Don't let your problems bear down too hard on you. [=don't let your problems weigh you down]
3 bear down on (someone or something) : to approach or move toward (something or someone) quickly and in a frightening or impressive way
• The enemy battleship bore down on us.
bear fruit : to produce a desired result or reward
• All his plans have finally borne fruit. [=all his plans have finally been realized]
- see also 2bear 6b (above)
bear in mind
- see 1mind
bear on [phrasal verb] bear on (something) formal
1 : to have an effect on (something)
• Personal feelings did not bear on our decision. [=did not affect or influence our decision]
2 : to apply or relate to (something)
• What are the facts bearing directly on this matter?
bear out [phrasal verb] bear out (something or someone) or bear (something or someone) out : to show the correctness of (something or someone)
• The facts bore out [=confirmed] her story. [=the facts showed that her story was true]
• Research has fully borne him out. [=has shown that he was completely correct]
bear up [phrasal verb] : to not be overwhelmed during a time of trouble, pain, etc.
• She's been going through a tough time, but she's bearing up pretty well.
- often + under
• She has found it hard to bear up under the strain.
bear with [phrasal verb] bear with (someone) : to be patient with (someone)
• I'll have that information for you soon. Just bear with me for another minute or two.
bear witness
- see 1witness
bear yourself formal : to move, stand, or behave in a specified way
• The soldier bore himself [=carried himself] stiffly upright.
• The soldier never failed to bear himself [=conduct himself, behave] courageously on the battlefield.
• He always bore himself [=behaved] like a gentleman.
bring (something) to bear : to cause (something) to have an effect or influence
• The company's new president brings 30 years of experience to bear.
• If we hope to resolve these issues, more resources must be brought to bear.
- often used with on
• They will bring their considerable skills/talent/experience/knowledge to bear on the problem.
• The demonstrators will continue to bring pressure to bear on the government.
cross to bear
- see 1cross
grin and bear it
- see grin
