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.
▪ 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]
▪ 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?
▪ 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]
▪ 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.
▪ 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)
▪ How much weight is that wall able to bear?
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ The old man bore down heavily on his cane. ▪ She bore down hard on her pencil.
▪ Don't let your problems bear down too hard on you. [=don't let your problems weigh you down]
▪ 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)
▪ 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?
▪ Personal feelings did not bear on our decision. [=did not affect or influence our decision]
▪ 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]
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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.
▪ 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
