Bear Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on September 27, 2025
Bear primarily refers to any of the large, heavy mammals of the family Ursidae, known for their thick fur and plantigrade walk. e.g., We spotted a bear in the forest while hiking.
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Bear Definitions
To endure an ordeal or difficulty.
She bore the pain without complaining.
To give birth to a child, used especially of a woman.
She bore three children within five years.
To produce fruit or flowers; yield.
The apple tree bears fruit every autumn.
To hold oneself in a particular way; carry or conduct.
He bears himself with dignity.
To manage to tolerate someone or something.
I can't bear him when he's being so loud.
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To carry (something) on one's person from one place to another
Bore the suitcase to the station.
To move from one place to another while containing or supporting (something); convey or transport
A train bearing grain.
To cause to move by or with steady pressure; push
A boat borne along by the current.
To carry or hold in the mind over time; harbor
Bear a grudge.
Bear ill will.
To have as a visible characteristic or attribute
A letter bearing his name.
To conduct (oneself) in a specified way
She bore herself with dignity.
To hold up; support
This wall bears much of the weight of the roof.
To be accountable for; assume
Bearing heavy responsibilities.
To have a tolerance for; endure
Couldn't bear his lying.
Can't bear to see them leave.
To have grounds for; call for; warrant
This case bears investigation.
To give birth to
Bore six children.
To produce; yield
Plants bearing fruit.
To offer; render
I will bear witness to the deed.
To yield fruit; produce
Peach trees that bear every summer.
To have relevance or influence; apply
They studied how the relativity theory bears on the history of science.
To endure something with tolerance or patience
Bear with me while I explain what happened.
To extend or proceed in a specified direction
The road bears to the right at the bottom of the hill.
To be directed or aimed in a certain direction or at a target
The guns were brought to bear upon the approaching fleet.
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.
Any of various other animals, such as the koala, that resemble a true bear.
A large, clumsy, or ill-mannered person.
One, such as an investor, that sells securities or commodities in expectation of falling prices.
A pessimist, especially regarding business conditions.
(Slang) Something that is difficult or unpleasant
The final exam was a bear.
(Slang) A highway patrol officer.
(Slang) A hairy, stocky gay man.
Characterized by falling prices
A bear market.
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.
The meat of this animal.
We had barbecued bear for dinner.
(figuratively) A rough, unmannerly, uncouth person.
(finance) An investor who sells commodities, securities, or futures in anticipation of a fall in prices.
A state policeman short for Smokey Bear.
(gay slang) A large, hairy man, especially one who is homosexual.
(engineering) A portable punching machine.
(nautical) A block covered with coarse matting, used to scour the deck.
(cartomancy) The fifteenth Lenormand card.
Something difficult or tiresome; a burden or chore.
That window can be a bear to open.
(obsolete) A pillowcase; a fabric case or covering as for a pillow.
To endeavour to depress the price of, or prices in.
To bear a railroad stock
To bear the market
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.
To carry upon one's person, especially visibly; to be equipped with.
The right to bear arms
To wear. en
To carry (offspring in the womb), to be pregnant (with).
The scan showed that the ewe was bearing twins.
(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.
(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.
(transitive) To present or exhibit (a particular outward appearance); to have (a certain look).
He bore the look of a defeated man.
(transitive) To have (a name, title, or designation).
The school still bears the name of its founder.
(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.
To have (interest or a specified rate of interest) stipulated in its terms.
The bond bears a fixed interest rate of 3.5%.
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.
(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
To feel and show (respect, reverence, loyalty, etc.) to, towards, or unto a person or thing.
The brothers had always borne one another respect.
(transitive) To possess inherently (a quality, attribute, power, or capacity); to have and display as an essential characteristic.
To bear life
To have (a relation, correspondence, etc.) to something else.
The punishment bears no relation to the crime.
(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.
(transitive) To have (a certain meaning, intent, or effect).
This word no longer bears its original meaning.
To behave or conduct (oneself).
She bore herself well throughout the ordeal.
To possess and use, to exercise (power or influence); to hold (an office, rank, or position).
To carry a burden or burdens.
To take or bring (a person) with oneself; to conduct.
To support, sustain, or endure.
(transitive) To support or sustain; to hold up.
This stone bears most of the weight.
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.
(transitive) To sustain, or be answerable for (blame, expense, responsibility, etc.).
The hirer must bear the cost of any repairs.
(transitive) To admit or be capable of (a meaning); to suffer or sustain without violence, injury, or change.
(transitive) To warrant, justify the need for.
This storm definitely bears monitoring.
To support, keep up, or maintain.
(transitive) To afford, to be something to someone, to supply with something. en
(transitive) To carry on, or maintain; to have. en
To press or impinge upon.
To push, thrust, press.
The rope has frayed where it bears on the rim of the wheel.
To take effect; to have influence or force; to be relevant.
To bring arguments to bear
How does this bear on the question?
Of a weapon, to be aimed at an enemy or other target.
The cannons were wheeled around to bear upon the advancing troops.
To produce, yield, give birth to.
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.
To produce or yield something, such as fruit or crops.
This year our apple trees bore a good crop of fruit.
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.
To gain or win.
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.
To support or sustain; to hold up.
To support and remove or carry; to convey.
I 'll bear your logs the while.
To conduct; to bring; - said of persons.
Bear them to my house.
To possess and use, as power; to exercise.
Every man should bear rule in his own house.
To sustain; to have on (written or inscribed, or as a mark), as, the tablet bears this inscription.
To possess or carry, as a mark of authority or distinction; to wear; as, to bear a sword, badge, or name.
To possess mentally; to carry or hold in the mind; to entertain; to harbor
The ancient grudge I bear him.
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.
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.
To sustain, or be answerable for, as blame, expense, responsibility, etc.
He shall bear their iniquities.
Somewhat that will bear your charges.
To render or give; to bring forward.
To carry on, or maintain; to have.
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.
To manage, wield, or direct.
Hath he borne himself penitently in prison?
To afford; to be to; to supply with.
His faithful dog shall bear him company.
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.
To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in opposition to barrenness.
This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
To suffer, as in carrying a burden.
But man is born to bear.
To endure with patience; to be patient.
I can not, can not bear.
To press; - with on or upon, or against.
These men bear hard on the suspected party.
To take effect; to have influence or force; as, to bring matters to bear.
To relate or refer; - with on or upon; as, how does this bear on the question?
To have a certain meaning, intent, or effect.
Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform.
To be situated, as to the point of compass, with respect to something else; as, the land bears N. by E.
To endeavor to depress the price of, or prices in; as, to bear a railroad stock; to bear the market.
A bier.
Any species of the genus Ursus, and of the closely allied genera. Bears are plantigrade Carnivora, but they live largely on fruit and insects.
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.
One of two constellations in the northern hemisphere, called respectively the Great Bear and the Lesser Bear, or Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
Metaphorically: A brutal, coarse, or morose person.
A person who sells stocks or securities for future delivery in expectation of a fall in the market.
A portable punching machine.
A block covered with coarse matting; - used to scour the deck.
Barley; the six-rowed barley or the four-rowed barley, commonly the former (Hordeum hexastichon or Hordeum vulgare).
Massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
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
Have;
Bear a resemblance
Bear a signature
Give birth (to a newborn);
My wife had twins yesterday!
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
Move while holding up or supporting;
Bear gifts
Bear a heavy load
Bear news
Bearing orders
Bring forth,
The apple tree bore delicious apples this year
The unidentified plant bore gorgeous flowers
Take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person;
I'll accept the charges
She agreed to bear the responsibility
Contain or hold; have within;
The jar carries wine
The canteen holds fresh water
This can contains water
Bring in;
Interest-bearing accounts
How much does this savings certificate pay annually?
Have on one's person;
He wore a red ribbon
Bear a scar
Behave in a certain manner;
She carried herself well
He bore himself with dignity
They conducted themselves well during these difficult times
Have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices;
She bears the title of Duchess
He held the governorship for almost a decade
Support or hold in a certain manner;
She holds her head high
He carried himself upright
Be pregnant with;
She is bearing his child
The are expecting another child in January
I am carrying his child
A large mammal known for its strength and thick fur, found in various parts of the world.
The grizzly bear is native to North America.
To carry or support something, especially a weight or burden.
He could barely bear the heavy load.
To have relevance or a particular meaning.
His testimony bears on the key issue of the trial.
To turn and proceed in a specified direction.
Bear left at the next intersection.
Financial markets: to expect or cause a decrease in the value of stocks.
He's betting that the market will bear soon.
Bear Snonyms
Endure
To suffer something painful or difficult patiently.
It's hard to endure the long winter nights.
Tolerate
To allow the existence, presence, or practice of something that one does not necessarily like or agree with.
I can't tolerate dishonesty in my team.
Carry
To hold and take from one place to another.
She carried the baby in her arms.
Support
To bear all or part of the weight of; hold up.
The bridge is designed to support heavy traffic.
Harbor
To hold in the mind.
He harbors resentment from years ago.
Sustain
To strengthen or support physically or mentally.
This food is hardly enough to sustain us.
Produce
To create or bring forth goods naturally.
The land produces a rich harvest.
Withstand
To remain undamaged or unaffected by; resist.
The materials used can withstand high temperatures.
Maintain
To cause or enable a condition or situation to continue.
It's important to maintain focus during the lecture.
Yield
To produce or provide (a natural, agricultural, or industrial product).
The fields yield rich crops.
Bear Idioms & Phrases
Bear fruit
To produce results or successes.
Her hard work eventually bore fruit when she was promoted.
Bear the brunt
To suffer the worst part of an unpleasant or problematic situation.
The coastal towns bore the brunt of the storm.
Bear with me
A request for patience or tolerance.
Bear with me while I find the document.
Bear the cost
To pay for something or take responsibility for the expenses.
The company will bear the cost of the repairs.
Bear arms
To carry weapons.
The constitution allows citizens to bear arms.
Can't bear the thought of
Unable to cope with or accept an idea.
She can't bear the thought of moving abroad.
Bear witness to
To show that something is true or that it exists.
The empty streets bear witness to the city's decline.
Cross to bear
A burden or trial one must endure.
This illness is his cross to bear.
Bear down on
To move quickly towards someone or something in a threatening way.
The storm was bearing down on the coast.
Bear in mind
To remember or consider.
Bear in mind that the roads are particularly icy today.
Grin and bear it
To accept a difficult situation without complaining.
Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it.
Bring to bear
To use influence, authority, or pressure to achieve a result.
They brought considerable pressure to bear on the negotiating team.
Bear no malice
To hold no resentment towards someone.
Despite the argument, I bear no malice towards her.
Bear out
To support or confirm a claim or idea.
The findings bear out the theory.
Bear the marks
To show signs or indications of something.
The old table bore the marks of many years of use.
Born to bear
Destined to carry or endure something.
Some believe they are born to bear great responsibilities.
Bear the consequences
To deal with the results or effects of one’s actions.
He must now bear the consequences of his decisions.
Bear up under
To remain cheerful or resilient despite stress or adversity.
She bore up under the pressure very well.
Bear someone's name
To be named after someone.
The library bears the name of its principal benefactor.
Bear a resemblance
To look very similar to someone or something.
He bears a strong resemblance to his grandfather.
Bear Example Sentences
The bear roamed freely in the national park.
The athletes had to bear down to win the championship.
You must bear in mind that he's still learning.
It's difficult to bear such sudden changes.
Please bear with me as I explain the rules.
I can bear the cold, but not the heat.
The structure is not designed to bear that much weight.
His actions will bear significant consequences.
They will have to bear the cost of the new policy.
We all have our own burdens to bear.
The walls of the castle still bear the scars of battle.
History will bear witness to our decisions.
She could hardly bear the thought of leaving.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in bear?
The stressed syllable in bear is bear.
Why is it called bear?
The word "bear" comes from the Old English "bera," which refers to the animal.
How do we divide bear into syllables?
Bear is divided as: bear.
How many syllables are in bear?
Bear has one syllable.
What is the first form of bear?
The first form of bear is bear.
What is the verb form of bear?
Bear is both a noun and a verb; as a verb, it refers to carrying or enduring.
What is the pronunciation of bear?
Bear is pronounced as /bɛər/.
What is the root word of bear?
The root word of bear is from the Old English "bera," referring to the animal.
How is bear used in a sentence?
Bear can refer to the animal or to carrying and enduring something.
What is the second form of bear?
The second form of bear is bore.
What is the singular form of bear?
The singular form is bear.
What is the plural form of bear?
The plural form is bears.
What is the opposite of bear?
The opposite of bear (verb) is disown or reject; for the animal, there is no direct opposite.
Is bear an abstract noun?
No, bear is not an abstract noun.
Is bear a countable noun?
Yes, bear is a countable noun.
Which determiner is used with bear?
Determiners such as "a," "the," or "that" can be used with bear.
Is bear a noun or adjective?
Bear is a noun and a verb, not an adjective.
Is bear a collective noun?
No, bear is not a collective noun.
Is the word bear Gerund?
Yes, bearing can be used as a gerund.
What is the third form of bear?
The third form of bear is borne or born.
What part of speech is bear?
Bear is both a noun and a verb.
What is another term for bear?
Another term for bear (animal) is ursid.
Is the word “bear” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Bear can be a direct object when used as a noun.
Is bear a vowel or consonant?
The word bear starts with a consonant.
Is the word bear imperative?
Yes, bear can be used in the imperative mood (e.g., "Bear left at the junction").
Which preposition is used with bear?
Prepositions like "with," "on," or "under" can be used with bear (e.g., "Bear with me").
Which conjunction is used with bear?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used (e.g., "Bear and endure").
Which article is used with bear?
The articles "a" or "the" can be used depending on whether it is known or unknown (e.g., "a bear," "the bear").
Is bear an adverb?
No, bear is not an adverb.
Is bear a negative or positive word?
Bear is neutral, but context may affect connotation.
Is the bear term a metaphor?
Bear can be used metaphorically when referring to enduring or carrying burdens.
Which vowel is used before bear?
Typically, any vowel can appear before bear depending on context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited 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.
