Bear — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈber/

Meaning & Definition of Bear

Bear (noun)

  1. any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora) of large heavy mammals of the Americas and Eurasia that have long shaggy hair, short tails, and plantigrade feet with nonretractile claws and that are mainly omnivorous but include some that are primarily carnivorous (as the polar bear) or herbivorous (as the giant panda)
  2. someone who resembles a bear (as in build, gait, or temperament)
  3. a burly, hairy, and often bearded gay or bisexual man

Bear (verb)

  1. to accept or endure especially without succumbing, put up with —usually used in questions and negative statements with can, can't, could, and couldn't
  2. to be worthy of (something), to deserve or allow (something)
  3. assume, accept

Bear (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring forth from the womb

    "luckily, she turned out to be able to bear children after all"

    similar: birth (chiefly dialect), deliver, drop, have, mother, produce, give birth to
  2. to put up with (something painful or difficult)

    "I can't bear the thought of losing another loved one"

  3. to have a relation or connection

    "I just found another fact that bears on this issue"

  4. to go on a specified course or in a certain direction

    "the road bears left after the second traffic light"

    similar: head, make
  5. to hold up or serve as a foundation for

    "the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time"

    related: steady, truss, underlie
  6. to keep in one's mind or heart

    "I'm not one to bear grudges"

  7. to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way

    "she bore herself well in her first public speaking event"

  8. to support and take from one place to another

    "the rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies"

  9. to take to or upon oneself

    "I bear some responsibility for the mishap"

  10. to wear or have on one's person

    "the right to bear arms"

    similar: carry, pack
  11. to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction

    "the path will bear north after that marked tree"

    similar: extend, go, head, lead, lie, run
  12. to have as a requirement

    "the violence in that country bears watching if the world wants to avoid a serious international conflict"

    opposite: have, hold
    near: own, possess
  13. to have within

    "gold-bearing ore"

    similar: boast, contain, hold
  14. to occupy a place or location

    "a hot, humid air mass is now bearing just south of the Gulf Coast"

    similar: be, lie, sit, stand
  15. to produce as revenue

    "an interest-bearing savings account"

    similar: give, pay, return, yield

Bear (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work

    "the upcoming kitchen renovation sounds like a real bear"

  2. an irritable and complaining person

    "you've been a real bear lately—are you having a bad week?"

Related Entry: Bear (down on) (verb)

Bear (down on) is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear (down on), not for bear.

  1. to push steadily against with some force

    "you need to bear down on that cap a bit to get it to latch tightly"

Related Entry: Bear-hug (verb)

Bear-hug is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear-hug, not for bear.

  1. to put one's arms around and press tightly

    "elated team members bear-hugging everyone in sight"

Related Entry: Bear out (verb)

Bear out is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear out, not for bear.

  1. to give evidence or testimony to the truth or factualness of

    "the newly discovered papers bore out the rumors about the president's personal life"

    opposite: disprove, rebut, refute

Related Entry: Bear up (verb)

Bear up is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear up, not for bear.

  1. to fill with courage or strength of purpose

    "repeatedly borne up in times of adversity by his faith"

Related Entry: Bear a hand (phrase)

Bear a hand is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear a hand, not for bear.

  1. to provide (someone) with what is useful or necessary to achieve an end

    "They were thankful their parents were there to bear a hand during the move."

    opposite: hinder

Related Entry: Bear down on (phrase)

Bear down on is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear down on, not for bear.

  1. to indicate the importance of by centering attention on

    "Our manager bore down on the need to meet upcoming deadlines."

Related Entry: Bear fruit (phrase)

Bear fruit is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear fruit, not for bear.

  1. to turn out as planned or desired

    "They had hoped to start a successful business, but their plans did not bear fruit."

Related Entry: Bear witness (phrase)

Bear witness is a different word from Bear. The synonyms below are for bear witness, not for bear.

  1. to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact

    "Both parties were asked to bear witness during the trial."

    related: verify, vouch, promise, vow

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bear

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bear:

Chiefly dialect: birth, bide
British: wear

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bear

Words with the opposite meaning of Bear:

Near Antonyms of Bear

Word Forms of Bear

Inflections: bears, bore, borne, born, bearing

Derived words: bearlike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Bear

Middle English bere, from Old English bera; akin to Old English brūn brown brown

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bear

Words & Phrases Containing Bear

Frequently Asked Questions about Bear

What does "Bear" mean?

"Bear" means any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora) of large heavy mammals of the Americas and Eurasia that have long shaggy hair, short tails, and plantigrade feet with nonretractile claws and that are mainly omnivorous but include some that are primarily carnivorous (as the polar bear) or herbivorous (as the giant panda). As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora) of large heavy mammals of the Americas and Eurasia that have long shaggy hair, short tails, and plantigrade feet with nonretractile claws and that are mainly omnivorous but include some that are primarily carnivorous (as the polar bear) or herbivorous (as the giant panda). It has 17 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bear"?

Other words for "Bear" include birth, deliver, drop, have, mother, produce, abide and absorb. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bear" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bear"?

There are 339 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bear". Common alternatives include birth, deliver, drop, have, mother, produce, abide, absorb, accept and bide.

What is the opposite of "Bear"?

Antonyms of "Bear" include disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate, have and hold. Near antonyms include abort, lose, miscarry and decline.

How do you use "Bear" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bear" in a sentence: "luckily, she turned out to be able to bear children after all"; "I can't bear the thought of losing another loved one"; "I just found another fact that bears on this issue".

Is "Bear" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bear" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Bear" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Bear" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Bear"?

"Bear" is pronounced /ˈber/.