Pronunciations (14)
-
/bɛə/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/bɛː/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
-
/bɛː/
Pronunciation notes
- British
- Northern-England
- Southern
- Standard
- Wales
-
/bɜː(ɹ)/
-
/beɾ/
Pronunciation notes
- Scotland
-
/bɛɚ/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
-
/ˈbɛɹ/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
-
/bɑɹ/
Pronunciation notes
- Southern-US
- colloquial
-
/beː/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
-
[beː~bɛ̝ː]
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
-
/ˈbiːə(r)/
Pronunciation notes
- India
-
/bɛː(r)/
Pronunciation notes
- India
-
/be̝ə/
-
/biə/
Noun
A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous) of the family Ursidae; having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous) of the family Ursidae; having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet. The meat of this animal.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
-
We had barbecued bear for dinner.
A rough, unmannerly, uncouth person.
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
One evening about this time, when his Lordship did me the honour to sup at my lodgings with Dr. Robertson and several other men of literary distinction, he regretted that Johnson had not been educated with more refinement, and lived more in polished society. 'No, no, my Lord, (said Signor Baretti,) do with him what you would, he would always have been a bear.'
An investor who sells commodities, securities, or futures in anticipation of a fall in prices.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
This accompt has been made to appear a bull accompt, i.e. that the bulls cannot take their stock. The fact is the reverse; it is a bear accompt, but the bears, unable to deliver their stock, have conjointly banged the market, and pocketed the tickets, to defeat the rise and loss that would have ensued to them by their buying on a rising price on the accompt day […]
A state policeman (short for Smokey Bear).
Usage- US usage
- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
More examples (1)
By the time we got into Tulsa Town We had eighty-five trucks in all But there's a roadblock up on the cloverleaf And them bears was wall-to-wall. Yeah, them smokies is thick as bugs on a bumper They even had a bear in the air. I says, "Callin' all trucks, this here's the Duck. We about to go a-huntin' bear."
'The bear's pulling somebody off there at 74,' reported someone else.
More examples (1)
He was listening for reports of Kojaks with Kodaks, or bear sightings (cop alerts) at his front door (ahead of him), especially plain wrappers (unmarked police cars) parked at specific yardsticks (mile-markers) taking pictures […]
A large, hairy man, especially one who is homosexual.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
- Antonyms
- Examples
-
Bears are usually hunky, chunky types reminiscent of railroad engineers and former football greats.
More examples (1)
Bear sought by masculine white male, 30, 5'8", 165 lbs, for weekly safe encounter. I'm in a long-term relationship and seek outside fun. You: tall, masculine, over 200 lbs, discreet, moustache.
I have everything it takes to be a bear: broad shoulders, full beard, semibald pate, and lots of body hair. But I don't want to be a fetish.
More examples (1)
There are numerous social organizations for bears in most parts of the United States. Lesbians don't have such prominent sexual subcultures as gay men, although, as just mentioned, some lesbians are into BDSM practices.
A koala (bear).
Usage- Australia
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
Bunyip Bluegum was a tidy bear, he objected to whisker soup[.]
A portable punching machine.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
A block covered with coarse matting, used to scour the deck.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
The fifteenth Lenormand card.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Something difficult or tiresome; a burden or chore.
Usage- US usage
- Colloquial
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
-
That window can be a bear to open.
"This was a real bear to refinish. You can't believe how hard it was right here to get a thousand years of crud out of this carving."
Verb
To endeavour to depress the price of, or prices in.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
to bear a railroad stock
to bear the market
Adjective
Characterized by declining prices in securities markets or by belief that the prices will fall.
Usage- not-comparable
- Related words
- Examples
-
The great bear market starting in 1929 scared a whole generation of investors.
Verb
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
They came bearing gifts.
Judging from the look on his face, he wasn't bearing good news.
More examples (6)
The little boat bore us to our destination.
This plant's light and fluffy seeds may be borne by the wind to remote islands.
what the market will bear
I'll bear your logs the while.
In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.
They surged about her, caught her up and bore her.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To carry (weapons, flags or symbols of rank, office, etc.) upon one's person, especially visibly; to be equipped with (weapons, etc.).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
the right to bear arms
More examples (1)
Master Shake: […] so that I too may be able to bet on the sporting event where the guy did jailtime for bringing the gun into the club. / Carl: Hey ey ey, watch it. He got a constitutional right to bear arms...in a dance club.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To wear (garments, pieces of jewellery, etc.).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The queen bore the royal scepter and crown as she processed into the hall.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To carry (offspring in the womb), to be pregnant (with).
Usage- Intransitive
- Rare
- Transitive
- of a woman or female animal
- Examples
-
The scan showed that the ewe was bearing twins.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To have or display (a mark or other feature).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
She still bears the scars from a cycling accident.
The stone bears a short inscription.
More examples (2)
This bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.
[…] male stag-beetles often bear wounds from the huge mandibles of other males.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. 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.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The shield bore a red cross.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To present or exhibit (a particular outward appearance); to have (a certain look).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
He bore the look of a defeated man.
The body was unclothed, and bore the appearance of being washed up by the sea.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To have (a name, title, or designation).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The school still bears the name of its founder.
[…] imitations that bear the same name as the things […]
More examples (1)
Heinrich Olbers described the paradox that bears his name in 1823.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To possess or enjoy (recognition, renown, a reputation, etc.); to have (a particular price, value, or worth).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The dictator bears a terrible reputation for cruelty.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To have (interest or a specified rate of interest) stipulated in its terms.
Usage- Transitive
- usually
- of an investment
- Examples
-
The bond bears a fixed interest rate of 3.5%.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To have (an appendage, organ, etc.) as part of the body; (of a part of the body) to have (an appendage).
Usage- Transitive
- of a person or animal
- Examples
-
Only the male Indian elephant bears tusks.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To carry or hold in the mind; to experience, entertain, harbour (an idea, feeling, or emotion).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
to bear a grudge, to bear ill will
the ancient grudge I bear him
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To feel and show (respect, reverence, loyalty, etc.) to, towards, or unto a person or thing.
Usage- Rare
- Transitive
- Examples
-
The brothers had always borne one another respect.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To possess inherently (a quality, attribute, power, or capacity); to have and display as an essential characteristic.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
to bear life
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To have (a relation, correspondence, etc.) to something else.
Usage- Transitive
- of a thing
- Examples
-
The punishment bears no relation to the crime.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To give (written or oral testimony or evidence); (figurative) to provide or constitute (evidence or proof), give witness.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
His achievements bear testimony to his ability.
The jury could see he was bearing false witness.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To have (a certain meaning, intent, or effect).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
This word no longer bears its original meaning.
Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To behave or conduct (oneself).
Usage- Reflexive
- Transitive
- Examples
-
She bore herself well throughout the ordeal.
Thus must thou thy body bear.
More examples (1)
Hath he borne himself penitently in prison?
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To possess and use, to exercise (power or influence); to hold (an office, rank, or position).
Usage- Rare
- Transitive
- Examples
-
Every man should bear rule in his own house.
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To carry a burden or burdens.
Usage- Intransitive
- Obsolete
- Transitive
To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. To take or bring (a person) with oneself; to conduct.
Usage- Obsolete
- Rare
- Transitive
- Examples
-
Bear them to my house.
To support, sustain, or endure. To support or sustain; to hold up.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
This stone bears most of the weight.
To support, sustain, or endure. To endure or withstand (hardship, scrutiny, etc.); to tolerate; to be patient (with).
- Examples
-
The pain is too much for me to bear.
It doesn’t bear thinking about.
More examples (8)
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.
I cannot, cannot bear; ’tis past , ’tis done; / Perish this impious , this detested son; […]
Man is born to bear.
[…] We are fools and slight; We mock thee when we do not fear: But help thy foolish ones to bear; Help thy vain worlds to bear thy light.
Events that might cause suffering in others may be borne without complaint by someone who believes that the disease is part of his or her family identity and hence inevitable. Even diseases for which no heritable basis is known may be borne easily by a person because others in the family have been similarly afflicted.
There's this fear deep inside of me / Like there's something I cannot see / And it's coming after me / It's hard to bear
To support, sustain, or endure. To sustain, or be answerable for (blame, expense, responsibility, etc.).
Usage- Transitive
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
The hirer must bear the cost of any repairs.
He shall bear their iniquities.
More examples (1)
What have you gotten there under your arm, Daughter? somewhat, I hope, that will bear your Charges in your Pilgrimage.
To support, sustain, or endure. To admit or be capable of (a meaning); to suffer or sustain without violence, injury, or change.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
In all criminal cases the most favourable interpretation should be put on words that they can possibly bear.
To support, sustain, or endure. To warrant, justify the need for.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
This storm definitely bears monitoring.
More examples (1)
An unusually high percentage of the hundreds of gay men who participated in the experimental trials for this vaccine (1978-1980) developed AIDS. Since these trials occurred at about the same time as the first AIDS cases in the same cities […] a possible connection at least bears careful study.
To support, keep up, or maintain. To afford, to be something to someone, to supply with something.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
[…] admitted to that equal sky, / His faithful dog shall bear him company.
To support, keep up, or maintain. To carry on, or maintain; to have.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
[…] and he finds the Pleasure, and Credit of bearing a Part in the Conversation, and of having his Reasons sometimes approved and hearken'd to.
To press or impinge upon. To push, thrust, press.
Usage- Intransitive
- usually
- with-on
- Examples
-
The rope has frayed where it bears on the rim of the wheel.
These men therefore bear hard upon the suspected party.
To press or impinge upon. To take effect; to have influence or force; to be relevant.
Usage- Figurative
- Intransitive
- Examples
-
to bring arguments to bear
How does this bear on the question?
To press or impinge upon. Of a weapon, to be aimed at an enemy or other target.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
-
The cannons were wheeled around to bear upon the advancing troops.
More examples (1)
2012, Ronald D. Utt, Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron Constitution's gun crews crossed the deck to the already loaded larboard guns as Bainbridge wore the ship around on a larboard tack and recrossed his path in a rare double raking action to bring her guns to bear again on Java's damaged stern.
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).
Usage- Ditransitive
- Transitive
- Examples
-
In Troy she becomes Paris’ wife, bearing him several children, all of whom die in infancy.
The twins were borne by an Italian mother.
More examples (1)
The powerful Bene Gesserit sisterhood for ninety generations has been manipulating bloodlines to produce the Kwisatz Haderach, a superbeing. On Caladan, Jessica, a member of the sisterhood and the bound concubine of Duke Leto Atreides, had been ordered to bear only daughters. Because of her love for the duke, she disobeyed and gave birth to a son: Paul, Paul Atreides.
To produce, yield, give birth to. To produce or yield something, such as fruit or crops.
Usage- Intransitive
- Transitive
- Uncommon
- Examples
-
This year our apple trees bore a good crop of fruit.
Betwixt two seasons comes th' auspicious air, / This age to blossom, and the next to bear.
To be, or head, in a specific direction or azimuth (from somewhere).
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
-
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.
More examples (1)
Great Falls bears north of Bozeman.
To gain or win.
Usage- Obsolete
- Transitive
- Examples
-
Some think to bear it by speaking a great word.
She was […] found not guilty, through bearing of friends and bribing of the judge.
Noun
massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
- Broader terms
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
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
Verb
have
- Examples
-
bear a resemblance
bear a signature
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
bear a grudge
entertain interesting notions
More examples (1)
harbor a resentment
cause to be born
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
My wife had twins yesterday!
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
I cannot bear his constant criticism
The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks
More examples (2)
he learned to tolerate the heat
She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage
move while holding up or supporting
- Examples
-
Bear gifts
bear a heavy load
More examples (2)
bear news
bearing orders
bring forth
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
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
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
I'll accept the charges
She agreed to bear the responsibility
contain or hold; have within
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The jar carries wine
The canteen holds fresh water
More examples (1)
This can contains water
bring in
- Examples
-
interest-bearing accounts
How much does this savings certificate pay annually?
have on one's person
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
He wore a red ribbon
bear a scar
have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
She bears the title of Duchess
He held the governorship for almost a decade
support or hold in a certain manner
- Examples
-
She holds her head high
He carried himself upright
be pregnant with
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
She is bearing his child
They are expecting another child in January
More examples (1)
I am carrying his child
behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
- Examples
-
You should act like an adult
Don't behave like a fool
More examples (2)
What makes her do this way?
The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people