Verb > Bear
1 : to accept or endure (something)
(+ object)
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.
(no object) (US) — + for
I couldn’t bear for you to get the wrong idea.
2 (+ object) : 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
3 (+ object) : 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 (+ object) 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.
– 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 (+ object)
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 (+ object)
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
7 (+ object) : to support the weight of (something)
How much weight is that wall able to bear?
8 (no object) : 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.