- 1 [transitive] (used with can/could in negative sentences and questions) to be able to accept and deal with something unpleasant synonym stand bear something The pain was almost more than he could bear. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him. bear doing something I can't bear having cats in the house. He can't bear being laughed at. bear to do something He can't bear to be laughed at. How can you bear to eat that stuff? bear somebody doing something I can't bear you doing that. Synonymshatedislike can’t stand despise can’t bear loathe detestThese words all mean to have a strong feeling of dislike for somebody/something.hate to have a strong feeling of dislike for somebody/something. Although hate is generally a very strong verb, it is also commonly used in spoken or informal English to talk about people or things that you dislike in a less important way, for example a particular type of food:He hates violence in any form. I’ve always hated cabbage.dislike (rather formal) to not like somebody/something. Dislike is a rather formal word; it is less formal, and more usual, to say that you don’t like somebody/something, especially in spoken English:I don’t like it when you phone me so late at night.can’t stand (rather informal) used to emphasize that you really do not like somebody/something:I can’t stand his brother. She couldn’t stand being kept waiting.despise to dislike and have no respect for somebody/something:He despised himself for being so cowardly.can’t bear used to say that you dislike something so much that you cannot accept or deal with it:I can’t bear having cats in the house.can’t stand or can’t bear?In many cases you can use either word, but can’t bear is slightly stronger and slightly more formal than can’t stand. loathe to hate somebody/something very much:They loathe each other. Loathe is generally an even stronger verb than hate, but it can also be used more informally to talk about less important things, meaning ‘really don’t like’:Whether you love or loathe their music, you can’t deny their talent.detest (rather formal) to hate somebody/something very much:They absolutely detest each other.Patterns I hate/dislike/can’t stand/can’t bear/loathe/detest doing something. I hate/can’t bear to do something. I hate/dislike/can’t stand/can’t bear it when… I really hate/dislike/can’t stand/despise/can’t bear/detest somebody/something. I absolutely hate/can’t stand/loathe/detest somebody/something. Oxford Collocations Dictionary verb + bearbe able to, can, be unable to, … See full entry not be suitable
- 2[transitive] not bear to not be suitable for something bear something Her later work does not bear comparison with her earlier novels (= because it is not nearly as good). The plan won't bear close inspection (= it will be found to be unacceptable when carefully examined). bear doing something The joke doesn't bear repeating (= because it is not funny or may offend people). His sufferings don't bear thinking about (= because they are so terrible). be responsible for something
- 3 [transitive] bear something (formal) to take responsibility for something She bore the responsibility for most of the changes. Do parents have to bear the whole cost of tuition fees? You shouldn't have to bear the blame for other people's mistakes. negative feeling
- 4[transitive] to have a feeling, especially a negative feeling bear something (against/towards somebody) He bears no resentment towards them. He's borne a grudge against me ever since that day. bear somebody something He's borne me a grudge ever since that day. She bore him no ill will. support weight
- 5 [transitive] bear something to support the weight of somebody/something The ice is too thin to bear your weight. show
- 6[transitive] bear something (formal) to show something; to carry something so that it can be seen The document bore her signature. He was badly wounded in the war and still bears the scars. She bears little resemblance to (= is not much like) her mother. The title of the essay bore little relation to (= was not much connected with) the contents. name
- 7[transitive] bear something (formal) to have a particular name a family that bore an ancient and honoured name carry
- 8[transitive] bear somebody/something (old-fashioned or formal) to carry somebody/something, especially while moving three kings bearing gifts yourself
- 9[transitive] bear yourself well, etc. (formal) to move, behave or act in a particular way He bears himself (= stands, walks, etc.) proudly, like a soldier. She bore herself with dignity throughout the funeral. child
- 10[transitive] (formal) to give birth to a child bear something She was not able to bear children. bear somebody something She had borne him six sons. of trees/plants
- 11[transitive] bear something (formal) to produce flowers or fruit turn
- 12[intransitive] bear (to the) left, north, etc. to go or turn in the direction mentioned When you get to the fork in the road, bear right. Word Originverb Old English beran, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit bharati, Greek pherein, and Latin ferre.Extra examples Don’t leave me alone. I wouldn’t be able to bear it. How can you bear this awful noise? The burden of the tax bore most heavily on the poor. We could hardly bear to be outdoors in the blinding sunlight. You must bear at least some responsibility for what has happened. information not bearing directly on his argument Guests starting arriving, mostly bearing gifts. He can’t bear being laughed at. He returned bearing a basket of vegetables. Her two sons helped bear the coffin. His parents had borne the child across the mountains. I can’t bear having cats in the house. I just can’t bear it any more! Schools will bear the brunt of cuts in government spending. She bore it all with her usual patience. She couldn’t bear seeing him so upset. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him. The ground was too soft to bear his weight. These trees take a long time to bear fruit. You shouldn’t have to bear the blame for other people’s mistakes.Idioms
verb jump to other results
BrE BrE//beə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//ber//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they bear BrE BrE//beə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//ber//
he / she / it bears BrE BrE//beəz//; NAmE NAmE//berz//
past simple bore BrE BrE//bɔː(r)//; NAmE NAmE//bɔːr//
past participle borne BrE BrE//bɔːn//; NAmE NAmE//bɔːrn//
-ing form bearing BrE BrE//ˈbeərɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈberɪŋ//
(old use) to be a soldier; to fight
to have a successful result
(formal) to be a cause of difficulty or suffering to somebody Taxation bears heavily on us all.
to remember somebody/something; to remember or consider that…
to receive the main force of something unpleasant Schools will bear the brunt of cuts in government spending.
to provide evidence of the truth of something The crowd of mourners at his funeral bore witness to the great affection in which he was held.
(formal, especially British English) to be realized by somebody, especially after a period of time It was gradually borne in on us that defeat was inevitable.
(formal) to use energy, pressure, influence, etc. to try to achieve something or make somebody do something We must bring all our energies to bear upon the task. Pressure was brought to bear on us to finish the work on time.
(only used as an infinitive and in orders) to accept pain, disappointment or a difficult situation without complaining There's nothing we can do about it. We'll just have to grin and bear it.
to have a difficult problem that makes you worried or unhappy but that you have to deal with We all have our crosses to bear. Phrasal Verbsbear down onbear onbear outbear upbear with
Check pronunciation: bear
