Bear vs. Carry — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 13, 2024
Bear involves enduring or holding up weight, stress, or responsibility, while carry means to transport or support from one place to another. Bear highlights endurance; carry focuses on movement.
Difference Between Bear and Carry
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Bear is often used to describe the act of holding up or enduring something, both physically and metaphorically. It suggests a sense of burden or responsibility that one has to hold or support over time. For example, one might bear the weight of a heavy backpack or bear the burden of a difficult secret. Carry, on the other hand, implies the act of transporting something from one location to another.
When talking about emotions or abstract concepts, to bear can mean to tolerate or endure them, such as bearing pain or sorrow. This usage emphasizes the capacity to withstand adverse conditions or feelings over time. Carry, in a metaphorical sense, can mean to support and move forward with an idea, project, or emotion. For example, one might carry hope for the future, implying an active role in fostering and promoting that hope.
In terms of physical action, bear requires a stationary or enduring posture, focusing on the ability to hold or withstand without necessarily moving. This could involve bearing a heavy load on one's shoulders without walking or moving from the spot. Conversely, carry denotes movement and is typically associated with the action of picking something up and taking it somewhere. The emphasis is on the transition from one place to another, such as carrying groceries from the store to home.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
To endure or withstand.
To transport or move from one place to another.
Usage Context
Emotional, metaphorical, and physical endurance.
Physical movement and metaphorical support.
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Physical Action
Often stationary, involves holding up a burden.
Involves movement and transportation.
Metaphorical Sense
Tolerating or enduring conditions or emotions.
Supporting and moving forward with ideas/emotions.
Emotional Aspect
Associated with endurance of hardships.
Linked to the action of promoting or fostering.
Compare with Definitions
Bear
To support or hold up.
The pillars bear the weight of the roof.
Carry
To transport or move something.
Please carry the box to the attic.
Bear
To give birth to.
The cat will soon bear kittens.
Carry
To win approval or support.
The proposal carried by a wide margin.
Bear
To possess as a characteristic.
The document bears his signature.
Carry
To have something on one's person.
She always carries a notebook.
Bear
To endure hardship or pressure.
She bears the stress with grace.
Carry
To support and move forward.
They carry the legacy of their ancestors.
Bear
To carry oneself in a specific manner.
He bears himself with dignity.
Carry
To hold or convey (as in a message).
The letter carries bad news.
Bear
To cause to move by or with steady pressure; push
A boat borne along by the current.
Carry
To hold or support while moving; bear
Carried the baby in my arms.
Carrying a heavy backpack.
Bear
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans.
Carry
To move or take from one place to another; transport
A train carrying freight.
A courier carrying messages.
Bear
To carry (something) on one's person from one place to another
Bore the suitcase to the station.
Carry
Chiefly Southern US To escort or accompany.
Bear
To move from one place to another while containing or supporting (something); convey or transport
A train bearing grain.
Carry
To serve as a means for the conveyance of; transmit
Pipes that carry waste water.
A bridge that carries traffic between the two cities.
Bear
To carry or hold in the mind over time; harbor
Bear a grudge.
Bear ill will.
Carry
To communicate; pass on
The news was carried by word of mouth to every settlement.
Bear
To have as a visible characteristic or attribute
A letter bearing his name.
Carry
To express or contain
Harsh words that carried a threat of violence.
Bear
To conduct (oneself) in a specified way
She bore herself with dignity.
Carry
To have (something) on the surface or skin; bear
Carries scars from acne.
Bear
To hold up; support
This wall bears much of the weight of the roof.
Carry
To hold or be capable of holding
The tank carries 16 gallons when full.
Bear
To be accountable for; assume
Bearing heavy responsibilities.
Carry
To support (a weight or responsibility).
Bear
To have a tolerance for; endure
Couldn't bear his lying.
Can't bear to see them leave.
Carry
To support the weight or responsibility of
A beam that carries the floor.
A student who carries a heavy course load.
Bear
To have grounds for; call for; warrant
This case bears investigation.
Carry
To keep or have on one's person
Stopped carrying credit cards.
Bear
To give birth to
Bore six children.
Carry
To be pregnant with (offspring).
Bear
To produce; yield
Plants bearing fruit.
Carry
To hold and move (the body or a part of it) in a particular way
Carried her head proudly.
Bear
To offer; render
I will bear witness to the deed.
Carry
To behave or conduct (oneself) in a specified manner.
Bear
To yield fruit; produce
Peach trees that bear every summer.
Carry
To extend or continue in space, time, or degree
Carried the line to the edge of the page.
Carry a joke too far.
Bear
To have relevance or influence; apply
They studied how the relativity theory bears on the history of science.
Carry
To give impetus to; propel
The wind carried the ball over the fence.
Bear
To endure something with tolerance or patience
Bear with me while I explain what happened.
Carry
To take further; advance
Carry a cause.
Bear
To extend or proceed in a specified direction
The road bears to the right at the bottom of the hill.
Carry
To take or seize, especially by force; capture.
Bear
To be directed or aimed in a certain direction or at a target
The guns were brought to bear upon the approaching fleet.
Carry
To be successful in; win
Lost the game but carried the match.
Bear
Any of various usually omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae that have a shaggy coat and a short tail and walk with the entire lower surface of the foot touching the ground.
Carry
To gain victory, support, or acceptance for
The motion was carried in a close vote.
Bear
Any of various other animals, such as the koala, that resemble a true bear.
Carry
To win a majority of the votes in
Roosevelt carried all but two states in the 1936 presidential election.
Bear
A large, clumsy, or ill-mannered person.
Carry
To gain the sympathy of; win over
The amateurs' enthusiasm carried the audience.
Bear
One, such as an investor, that sells securities or commodities in expectation of falling prices.
Carry
To include or keep on a list
Carried a dozen workers on the payroll.
Bear
A pessimist, especially regarding business conditions.
Carry
To have as an attribute or accompaniment
An appliance carrying a full-year guarantee.
Bear
(Slang) Something that is difficult or unpleasant
The final exam was a bear.
Carry
To involve as a condition, consequence, or effect
The crime carried a five-year sentence.
Bear
(Slang) A highway patrol officer.
Carry
(Physics) To possess (an intrinsic property, such as color charge) or convey (a force) that governs particle interactions.
Bear
(Slang) A hairy, stocky gay man.
Carry
To transfer from one place, as a column, page, or book, to another
Carry a number in addition.
Bear
Characterized by falling prices
A bear market.
Carry
To keep in stock; offer for sale
A store that carries a full line of electronic equipment.
Bear
A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous), related to the dog and raccoon, having shaggy hair, a very small tail, and flat feet; a member of the family Ursidae.
Carry
To keep in one's accounts as a debtor
Carried the unemployed customer for 90 days.
Bear
The meat of this animal.
We had barbecued bear for dinner.
Carry
To maintain or support (one that is weaker or less competent, for example).
Bear
(figuratively) A rough, unmannerly, uncouth person.
Carry
To compensate for (a weaker member or partner) by one's performance.
Bear
(finance) An investor who sells commodities, securities, or futures in anticipation of a fall in prices.
Carry
To place before the public; print or broadcast
The morning papers carried the story. The press conference was carried by all networks.
Bear
A state policeman short for Smokey Bear.
Carry
To produce as a crop.
Bear
(engineering) A portable punching machine.
Carry
To provide forage for (livestock)
Land that carries sheep.
Bear
(nautical) A block covered with coarse matting, used to scour the deck.
Carry
To sing (a melody, for example) on key
Carry a tune.
Bear
(cartomancy) The fifteenth Lenormand card.
Carry
(Nautical) To be equipped with (a mast or sail).
Bear
Something difficult or tiresome; a burden or chore.
That window can be a bear to open.
Carry
To cover (a distance) or advance beyond (a point or object) in one golf stroke.
Bear
(obsolete) A pillowcase; a fabric case or covering as for a pillow.
Carry
To control and advance (a ball or puck).
Bear
To endeavour to depress the price of, or prices in.
To bear a railroad stock
To bear the market
Carry
(Basketball) To palm (the ball) in violation of the rules.
Bear
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
They came bearing gifts.
Judging from the look on his face, he wasn't bearing good news.
The little boat bore us to our destination.
This plant's light and fluffy seeds may be borne by the wind to remote islands.
Carry
To act as a bearer
Teach a dog to fetch and carry.
Bear
To carry upon one's person, especially visibly; to be equipped with.
The right to bear arms
Carry
To be transmitted or conveyed
A voice that carries well.
Bear
To wear. en
Carry
To admit of being transported
Unbalanced loads do not carry easily.
Bear
To carry (offspring in the womb), to be pregnant (with).
The scan showed that the ewe was bearing twins.
Carry
To hold the neck and head in a certain way. Used of a horse.
Bear
(transitive) To have or display (a mark or other feature).
She still bears the scars from a cycling accident.
The stone bears a short inscription.
This bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.
Carry
To be accepted or approved
The proposal carried by a wide margin.
Bear
(transitive) To display (a particular heraldic device) on a shield or coat of arms; to be entitled to wear or use (a heraldic device) as a coat of arms.
The shield bore a red cross.
Carry
The act or process of carrying.
Bear
(transitive) To present or exhibit (a particular outward appearance); to have (a certain look).
He bore the look of a defeated man.
Carry
A portage, as between two navigable bodies of water.
Bear
(transitive) To have (a name, title, or designation).
The school still bears the name of its founder.
Carry
(Football) An act of running with the ball on an offensive play from scrimmage
A carry of six yards.
Bear
(transitive) To possess or enjoy (recognition, renown, a reputation, etc.); to have (a particular price, value, or worth).
The dictator bears a terrible reputation for cruelty.
Carry
The range of a gun or projectile.
Bear
To have (interest or a specified rate of interest) stipulated in its terms.
The bond bears a fixed interest rate of 3.5%.
Carry
The distance traveled by a hurled or struck ball.
Bear
To have (an appendage, organ, etc.) as part of the body; (of a part of the body) to have (an appendage).
Only the male Indian elephant bears tusks.
Carry
Reach; projection
"a voice that had far more carry to it than at any time in the term thus far" (Jimmy Breslin).
Bear
(transitive) To carry or hold in the mind; to experience, entertain, harbour (an idea, feeling, or emotion).
To bear a grudge, to bear ill will
Carry
(transitive) To lift (something) and take it to another place; to transport (something) by lifting.
Bear
To feel and show (respect, reverence, loyalty, etc.) to, towards, or unto a person or thing.
The brothers had always borne one another respect.
Carry
(transitive) To notionally transfer from one place (such as a country, book, or column) to another.
To carry the war from Greece into Asia
To carry an account to the ledger
Bear
(transitive) To possess inherently (a quality, attribute, power, or capacity); to have and display as an essential characteristic.
To bear life
Carry
(transitive) To convey by extension or continuance; to extend.
The builders are going to carry the chimney through {{the roof.
}} They would have carried the road ten miles further, but ran out of materials.
Bear
To have (a relation, correspondence, etc.) to something else.
The punishment bears no relation to the crime.
Carry
To move; to convey using force
Bear
(transitive) To give (written or oral testimony or evidence); (figurative) to provide or constitute (evidence or proof), give witness.
His achievements bear testimony to his ability.
The jury could see he was bearing false witness.
Carry
(transitive) To lead or guide.
Bear
(transitive) To have (a certain meaning, intent, or effect).
This word no longer bears its original meaning.
Carry
(transitive) To stock or supply (something); to have in store.
The corner drugstore doesn't carry his favorite brand of aspirin.
Bear
To behave or conduct (oneself).
She bore herself well throughout the ordeal.
Carry
(transitive) To adopt (something); take (something) over.
I think I can carry Smith's work while she is out.
Bear
To possess and use, to exercise (power or influence); to hold (an office, rank, or position).
Carry
(transitive) To adopt or resolve on, especially in a deliberative assembly
The court carries that motion.
Bear
To carry a burden or burdens.
Carry
In an addition, to transfer the quantity in excess of what is countable in the units in a column to the column immediately to the left in order to be added there.
Five and nine are fourteen; carry the one to the tens place.
Bear
To take or bring (a person) with oneself; to conduct.
Carry
(transitive) To have, hold, possess or maintain (something).
Always carry sufficient insurance to protect against a loss.
Bear
To support, sustain, or endure.
Carry
(intransitive) To be transmitted; to travel.
The sound of the bells carried for miles on the wind.
Bear
(transitive) To support or sustain; to hold up.
This stone bears most of the weight.
Carry
To insult, to diss.
Bear
To endure or withstand (hardship, scrutiny, etc.); to tolerate; to be patient (with).
The pain is too much for me to bear.
I would never move to Texas — I can't bear heat.
This reasoning will not bear much analysis.
Please bear with me as I try to find the book you need.
Carry
To capture a ship by coming alongside and boarding.
Bear
(transitive) To sustain, or be answerable for (blame, expense, responsibility, etc.).
The hirer must bear the cost of any repairs.
Carry
To transport (the ball) whilst maintaining possession.
Bear
(transitive) To admit or be capable of (a meaning); to suffer or sustain without violence, injury, or change.
Carry
(transitive) To have on one's person.
She always carries a purse;
Marsupials carry their young in a pouch
Bear
(transitive) To warrant, justify the need for.
This storm definitely bears monitoring.
Carry
To be pregnant (with).
The doctor said she's carrying twins.
Bear
To support, keep up, or maintain.
Carry
To have propulsive power; to propel.
A gun or mortar carries well.
Bear
(transitive) To afford, to be something to someone, to supply with something. en
Carry
To hold the head; said of a horse.
To carry well, i.e. to hold the head high, with arching neck
Bear
(transitive) To carry on, or maintain; to have. en
Carry
(hunting) To have earth or frost stick to the feet when running, as a hare.
Bear
To press or impinge upon.
Carry
To bear or uphold successfully through conflict, for example a leader or principle
Bear
To push, thrust, press.
The rope has frayed where it bears on the rim of the wheel.
Carry
To succeed in (e.g. a contest); to succeed in; to win.
The Tories carried the election.
Bear
To take effect; to have influence or force; to be relevant.
To bring arguments to bear
How does this bear on the question?
Carry
(obsolete) To get possession of by force; to capture.
Bear
Of a weapon, to be aimed at an enemy or other target.
The cannons were wheeled around to bear upon the advancing troops.
Carry
To contain; to comprise; have a particular aspect; to show or exhibit
Bear
To produce, yield, give birth to.
Carry
(reflexive) To bear (oneself); to behave or conduct.
Bear
To give birth to (someone or something) may take the father of the direct object as an indirect object.
In Troy she becomes Paris’ wife, bearing him several children, all of whom die in infancy.
Carry
To bear the charges or burden of holding or having, as stocks, merchandise, etc., from one time to another.
A merchant is carrying a large stock;
A farm carries {{a mortgage;
}} a broker carries stock for {{a customer;
}} to carry a life insurance.
Bear
To produce or yield something, such as fruit or crops.
This year our apple trees bore a good crop of fruit.
Carry
(intransitive) To have a weapon on one's person; to be armed.
Bear
To be, or head, in a specific direction or azimuth (from somewhere).
Carry on past the church and then bear left at the junction.
By my readings, we're bearing due south, so we should turn about ten degrees east.
Great Falls bears north of Bozeman.
Carry
(Southern US) to physically transport (in the general sense, not necessarily by lifting)
Will you carry me to town?
Bear
To gain or win.
Carry
(North America) To bear a firearm, such as a gun.
A holster can help you carry in confidence, knowing that your weapon is secure and close at hand.
Bear
Characterized by declining prices in securities markets or by belief that the prices will fall.
The great bear market starting in 1929 scared a whole generation of investors.
Carry
A manner of transporting or lifting something; the grip or position in which something is carried.
Adjust your carry from time to time so that you don't tire too quickly.
Bear
To support or sustain; to hold up.
Carry
A tract of land over which boats or goods are carried between two bodies of navigable water; a portage.
Bear
To support and remove or carry; to convey.
I 'll bear your logs the while.
Carry
(computing) The bit or digit that is carried in an addition operation.
Bear
To conduct; to bring; - said of persons.
Bear them to my house.
Carry
(finance) The benefit or cost of owning an asset over time.
The carry on this trade is 25 basis points per annum.
Bear
To possess and use, as power; to exercise.
Every man should bear rule in his own house.
Carry
(golf) The distance travelled by the ball when struck, until it hits the ground.
Bear
To sustain; to have on (written or inscribed, or as a mark), as, the tablet bears this inscription.
Carry
(finance) Carried interest.
Bear
To possess or carry, as a mark of authority or distinction; to wear; as, to bear a sword, badge, or name.
Carry
The sky; cloud-drift.
Bear
To possess mentally; to carry or hold in the mind; to entertain; to harbor
The ancient grudge I bear him.
Carry
To convey or transport in any manner from one place to another; to bear; - often with away or off.
When he dieth he shall carry nothing away.
Devout men carried Stephen to his burial.
Another carried the intelligence to Russell.
The sound will be carried, at the least, twenty miles.
Bear
To endure; to tolerate; to undergo; to suffer.
Should such a man, too fond to rule alone,Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne.
I cannot bearThe murmur of this lake to hear.
My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Carry
To have or hold as a burden, while moving from place to place; to have upon or about one's person; to bear; as, to carry a wound; to carry an unborn child.
If the ideas . . . were carried along with us in our minds.
Bear
To gain or win.
Some think to bear it by speaking a great word.
She was . . . found not guilty, through bearing of friends and bribing of the judge.
Carry
To move; to convey by force; to impel; to conduct; to lead or guide.
Go, carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet.
He carried away all his cattle.
Passion and revenge will carry them too far.
Bear
To sustain, or be answerable for, as blame, expense, responsibility, etc.
He shall bear their iniquities.
Somewhat that will bear your charges.
Carry
To transfer from one place (as a country, book, or column) to another; as, to carry the war from Greece into Asia; to carry an account to the ledger; to carry a number in adding figures.
Bear
To render or give; to bring forward.
Carry
To convey by extension or continuance; to extend; as, to carry the chimney through the roof; to carry a road ten miles farther.
Bear
To carry on, or maintain; to have.
Carry
To bear or uphold successfully through conflict, as a leader or principle; hence, to succeed in, as in a contest; to bring to a successful issue; to win; as, to carry an election.
The carrying of our main point.
Bear
To admit or be capable of; that is, to suffer or sustain without violence, injury, or change.
In all criminal cases the most favorable interpretation should be put on words that they can possibly bear.
Carry
To get possession of by force; to capture.
The town would have been carried in the end.
Bear
To manage, wield, or direct.
Hath he borne himself penitently in prison?
Carry
To contain; to comprise; to bear the aspect of ; to show or exhibit; to imply.
He thought it carried something of argument in it.
It carries too great an imputation of ignorance.
Bear
To afford; to be to; to supply with.
His faithful dog shall bear him company.
Carry
To bear (one's self); to behave, to conduct or demean; - with the reflexive pronouns.
He carried himself so insolently in the house, and out of the house, to all persons, that he became odious.
Bear
To bring forth or produce; to yield; as, to bear apples; to bear children; to bear interest.
Here dwelt the man divine whom Samos bore.
Carry
To bear the charges or burden of holding or having, as stocks, merchandise, etc., from one time to another; as, a merchant is carrying a large stock; a farm carries a mortgage; a broker carries stock for a customer; to carry a life insurance.
Bear
To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in opposition to barrenness.
This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
Carry
To act as a bearer; to convey anything; as, to fetch and carry.
Bear
To suffer, as in carrying a burden.
But man is born to bear.
Carry
To have propulsive power; to propel; as, a gun or mortar carries well.
Bear
To endure with patience; to be patient.
I can not, can not bear.
Carry
To hold the head; - said of a horse; as, to carry well i. e., to hold the head high, with arching neck.
Bear
To press; - with on or upon, or against.
These men bear hard on the suspected party.
Carry
To have earth or frost stick to the feet when running, as a hare.
Bear
To take effect; to have influence or force; as, to bring matters to bear.
Carry
A tract of land, over which boats or goods are carried between two bodies of navigable water; a carrying place; a portage.
Bear
To relate or refer; - with on or upon; as, how does this bear on the question?
Carry
The act of carrying something
Bear
To have a certain meaning, intent, or effect.
Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform.
Carry
Move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body;
You must carry your camping gear
Carry the suitcases to the car
This train is carrying nuclear waste
These pipes carry waste water into the river
Bear
To be situated, as to the point of compass, with respect to something else; as, the land bears N. by E.
Carry
Have with oneself; have on one's person;
She always takes an umbrella
I always carry money
She packs a gun when she goes into the mountains
Bear
To endeavor to depress the price of, or prices in; as, to bear a railroad stock; to bear the market.
Carry
Transmit or serve as the medium for transmission;
Sound carries well over water
The airwaves carry the sound
Many metals conduct heat
Bear
A bier.
Carry
Serve as a means for expressing something;
The painting of Mary carries motherly love
His voice carried a lot af anger
Bear
Any species of the genus Ursus, and of the closely allied genera. Bears are plantigrade Carnivora, but they live largely on fruit and insects.
Carry
Bear or be able to bear the weight, pressure,or responsibility of;
His efforts carried the entire project
How many credits is this student carrying?
We carry a very large mortgage
Bear
An animal which has some resemblance to a bear in form or habits, but no real affinity; as, the woolly bear; ant bear; water bear; sea bear.
Carry
Support or hold in a certain manner;
She holds her head high
He carried himself upright
Bear
One of two constellations in the northern hemisphere, called respectively the Great Bear and the Lesser Bear, or Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
Carry
Contain or hold; have within;
The jar carries wine
The canteen holds fresh water
This can contains water
Bear
Metaphorically: A brutal, coarse, or morose person.
Carry
Extend to a certain degree;
Carry too far
She carries her ideas to the extreme
Bear
A person who sells stocks or securities for future delivery in expectation of a fall in the market.
Carry
Continue or extend;
The civil war carried into the neighboring province
The disease extended into the remote mountain provinces
Bear
A portable punching machine.
Carry
Be necessarily associated with or result in or involve;
This crime carries a penalty of five years in prison
Bear
A block covered with coarse matting; - used to scour the deck.
Carry
Win in an election;
The senator carried his home state
Bear
Barley; the six-rowed barley or the four-rowed barley, commonly the former (Hordeum hexastichon or Hordeum vulgare).
Carry
Include, as on a list;
How many people are carried on the payroll?
Bear
Massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
Carry
Behave in a certain manner;
She carried herself well
He bore himself with dignity
They conducted themselves well during these difficult times
Bear
An investor with a pessimistic market outlook; an investor who expects prices to fall and so sells now in order to buy later at a lower price
Carry
Have on hand;
Do you carry kerosene heaters?
Bear
Have;
Bear a resemblance
Bear a signature
Carry
Include as the content; broadcast or publicize;
We ran the ad three times
This paper carries a restaurant review
All major networks carried the press conference
Bear
Give birth (to a newborn);
My wife had twins yesterday!
Carry
Propel,
Carry the ball
Dribble the ball
Bear
Put up with something or somebody unpleasant;
I cannot bear his constant criticism
The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks
He learned to tolerate the heat
She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage
Carry
Pass on a communication;
The news was carried to every village in the province
Bear
Move while holding up or supporting;
Bear gifts
Bear a heavy load
Bear news
Bearing orders
Carry
Have as an inherent or characteristic feature or have as a consequence;
This new washer carries a two year guarantee
The loan carries a high interest rate
This undertaking carries many dangers
She carries her mother's genes
These bonds carry warrants
The restaurant carries an unusual name
Bear
Bring forth,
The apple tree bore delicious apples this year
The unidentified plant bore gorgeous flowers
Carry
Be conveyed over a certain distance;
Her voice carries very well in this big opera house
Bear
Take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person;
I'll accept the charges
She agreed to bear the responsibility
Carry
Keep up with financial support;
The Federal Government carried the province for many years
Bear
Contain or hold; have within;
The jar carries wine
The canteen holds fresh water
This can contains water
Carry
Have or possess something abstract;
I carry her image in my mind's eye
I will carry the secret to my grave
I carry these thoughts in the back of my head
I carry a lot of life insurance
Bear
Bring in;
Interest-bearing accounts
How much does this savings certificate pay annually?
Carry
Win approval or support for;
Carry all before one
His speech did not sway the voters
Bear
Have on one's person;
He wore a red ribbon
Bear a scar
Carry
Compensate for a weaker partner or member by one's own performance;
I resent having to carry her all the time
Bear
Behave in a certain manner;
She carried herself well
He bore himself with dignity
They conducted themselves well during these difficult times
Carry
Take further or advance;
Carry a cause
Bear
Have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices;
She bears the title of Duchess
He held the governorship for almost a decade
Carry
Have on the surface or on the skin;
Carry scars
Bear
Support or hold in a certain manner;
She holds her head high
He carried himself upright
Carry
Capture after a fight;
The troops carried the town after a brief fight
Bear
Be pregnant with;
She is bearing his child
The are expecting another child in January
I am carrying his child
Carry
Transfer (entries) from one account book to another
Carry
Transfer (a number, cipher, or remainder) to the next column or unit's place before or after, in addition or multiplication;
Put down 5 and carry 2
Carry
Pursue a line of scent or be a bearer;
The dog was taught to fetch and carry
Carry
Bear (a crop);
This land does not carry olives
Carry
Propel or give impetus to;
The sudden gust of air propelled the ball to the other side of the fence
Carry
Drink alcohol without showing ill effects;
He can hold his liquor
He had drunk more than he could carry
Carry
Be able to feed;
This land will carry ten cows to the acre
Carry
Have a certain range;
This rifle carries for 3,000 feet
Carry
Cover a certain distance or advance beyond;
The drive carried to the green
Carry
Secure the passage or adoption (of bills and motions);
The motion carried easily
Carry
Be successful in;
She lost the game but carried the match
Carry
Sing or play against other voices or parts;
He cannot carry a tune
Carry
Be pregnant with;
She is bearing his child
The are expecting another child in January
I am carrying his child
Common Curiosities
Is "bearing a child" the same as "carrying a child"?
They are similar but "bearing a child" emphasizes the process of giving birth, while "carrying a child" often refers to the period of pregnancy.
What does it mean to "carry on"?
It means to continue or proceed, especially after a disruption.
Can objects bear emotions?
Metaphorically, yes. For example, a letter can bear sad news.
Can "carry" be used in a negative sense?
Yes, for example, carrying a disease means to be infected with and potentially spread it.
Do "bear" and "carry" have the same connotations in all contexts?
No, their connotations vary with context, emphasizing endurance vs. movement respectively.
Is "bearing witness" the same as "carrying a message"?
Not exactly. "Bearing witness" involves testifying or affirming, while "carrying a message" is about conveying information.
Is it correct to say someone "bears a grudge"?
Yes, it means they hold onto a grudge over time.
Can "carry" imply responsibility?
Yes, especially in contexts where one is responsible for conveying or upholding something.
Can "bear" and "carry" be used interchangeably?
Not always, as "bear" focuses on endurance and "carry" on movement.
Can animals "bear" or "carry"?
Yes, animals can both bear (endure conditions or give birth) and carry (transport their young or objects).
How do you use "bear" in a financial context?
"Bear" can describe a market trend downward, suggesting it endures lower prices.
Does "bear" have a passive connotation?
It can, especially in contexts where enduring or withstanding is emphasized over action.
Can "carry" be used in legal contexts?
Yes, for example, carrying a concealed weapon is a legal term.
Is it more physically demanding to bear or to carry?
It depends on the context and the nature of what is being borne or carried, as both can be physically challenging.
How does one "bear arms"?
It means to possess or carry weapons, emphasizing the right or duty to arm oneself.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
