noun

bear

beh-uh

noun

A large, heavily built mammal with thick fur, found across much of the world, ranging from mostly plant-eating to fully carnivorous species.

"A grizzly bear wandered along the riverbank looking for salmon."

"Polar bears rely almost entirely on seals for food."

An investor who expects prices to fall and sells accordingly; used as an adjective for a falling market.

"Bears dominated the stock market during the downturn."

"It was a bear market for most of the year."

verb

To carry, support, or endure something.

"The old bridge can no longer bear heavy traffic."

"She had to bear the pain until the medicine arrived."

To give birth to (a child), or to produce (fruit, etc.).

"She bore three children in five years."

"The old apple tree still bears fruit every autumn."

How to Use Bear

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMainly the large forest animal, but also "to carry/endure" as a verb, and financial slang for someone betting prices will fall.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "bear" (the verb, "to carry/endure," past tense "bore") with "bare" (meaning "uncovered" or "empty") — they sound identical but are unrelated.

Easily confused with

bare →

Common pairings

bear the weight bear in mind bear market grizzly bear

Word Forms

beared past tense, bore past tense, bare past tense, borne past tense, born past tense, bears plural, bear plural, bore plural, bare plural, bears singular, bears singular, bear singular, bare singular, bore singular, bearest singular, borest singular, barest singular, beareth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A grizzly _____ wandered along the riverbank looking for salmon.

Etymology

From Old English bera, probably originally an epithet meaning "the brown one" — some scholars think ancient Germanic peoples avoided using the animal's real name out of superstition.

Synonyms

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bruin ursid

Rhymes for bear

ear year dear hear tear wear near fear pear gear rear sear

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