Burden — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbər-dᵊn/ bur·den

Meaning & Definition of Burden

Burden (noun)

  1. something that is carried, load
  2. duty, responsibility
  3. something oppressive or worrisome
  4. a central topic, theme
  5. chorus, refrain
  6. a bass or accompanying part

Burden (verb)

  1. load, oppress

Burden (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported

    "the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens"

  2. something one must do because of prior agreement

    "the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game"

  3. a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often

    "had some trouble coming up with a burden for the song"

    similar: chorus, refrain
    related: repeat, response

Burden (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to place a weight or burden on

    "burdened the dog with a little backpack"

  2. to make sad

    "refuses to let everyday problems burden her"

Related Entry: Load (noun)

Load is a different word from Burden. The synonyms below are for load, not for burden.

  1. a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported

    "hoisted a load of grain on the truck going to Florida"

  2. a considerable amount

    "there's no rush, since we've got loads of time left"

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Burden

The most common words with a similar meaning to Burden:

Archaic: do

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Burden

Words with the opposite meaning of Burden:

Near Antonyms of Burden

Word Forms of Burden

Inflections: burdened, burdening

Origin & Etymology of Burden

Middle English, from Old English byrthen; akin to Old English beran to carry bear

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Burden

Words & Phrases Containing Burden

Frequently Asked Questions about Burden

What does "Burden" mean?

"Burden" means something that is carried, load. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: something that is carried, load. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Burden"?

Other words for "Burden" include cargo, draft, freight, haul, lading, load, loading and payload. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Burden" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Burden"?

There are 131 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Burden". Common alternatives include cargo, draft, freight, haul, lading, load, loading, payload, weight and charge.

What is the opposite of "Burden"?

Antonyms of "Burden" include disburden, discharge, disencumber, unburden, unlade, unload, brighten and buoy. Near antonyms include grace, postponement, stay and ease.

How do you use "Burden" in a sentence?

Examples of "Burden" in a sentence: "the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens"; "the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game"; "had some trouble coming up with a burden for the song".

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

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

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

As a C1-level word, "Burden" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Burden"?

"Burden" is pronounced /ˈbər-dᵊn/ and divided into syllables as bur·den.