What does "bear" mean?
A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous), having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet; a member of the family Ursidae.
Bear
/bɛə/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous), having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet; a member of the family Ursidae.
- Grammar: bear is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bruin, ursid, abide, abide.
- Useful contrasts: abort, bridles, bull.
- Usage evidence: What?! You ate my chocolate bear?!
How to use "bear"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bear" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bear" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bear" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bear" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bear" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bruin" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bear", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous), having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet; a member of the family Ursidae. countable, uncountable
- 2 Alternative spelling of bere (“barley”). alt-of, alternative, uncountable
"There are several plots of those species of barley called big, which is six-rowed barley; or bear, which is four-rowed, cultivated."
- 3 Alternative spelling of bere (“pillowcase”). alt-of, alternative, uncountable
"And, according to this, one of my Neighbours made a Bag, like a Pillow-bear, of the ordinary six-penny yard Cloth, and boiled his Hops in it half an Hour; then he took them out, and put in another Bag of the like Quantity of fresh Hops, […]"
- 4 massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws wordnet
- 5 A large, generally omnivorous mammal (a few species are purely carnivorous or herbivorous), having shaggy fur, a very small tail, and flat feet; a member of the family Ursidae.; The meat of this animal. uncountable
"We had barbecued bear for dinner."
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 an investor with a pessimistic market outlook; an investor who expects prices to fall and so sells now in order to buy later at a lower price wordnet
- 7 A rough, unmannerly, uncouth person. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"One evening about this time, when his Lordship did me the honour to sup at my lodgings with Dr. Robertson and several other men of literary distinction, he regretted that Johnson had not been educated with more refinement, and lived more in polished society. 'No, no, my Lord, (said Signor Baretti,) do with him what you would, he would always have been a bear.'"
- 8 An investor who sells commodities, securities, or futures in anticipation of a fall in prices. countable, uncountable
"This accompt has been made to appear a bull accompt, i.e. that the bulls cannot take their stock. The fact is the reverse; it is a bear accompt, but the bears, unable to deliver their stock, have conjointly banged the market, and pocketed the tickets, to defeat the rise and loss that would have ensued to them by their buying on a rising price on the accompt day […]"
- 9 A state policeman (short for Smokey Bear). US, countable, slang, uncountable
"By the time we got into Tulsa Town We had eighty-five trucks in all But there's a roadblock up on the cloverleaf And them bears was wall-to-wall. Yeah, them smokies is thick as bugs on a bumper They even had a bear in the air. I says, "Callin' all trucks, this here's the Duck. We about to go a-huntin' bear.""
- 10 A large, hairy man, especially one who is homosexual. countable, slang, uncountable
"Bears are usually hunky, chunky types reminiscent of railroad engineers and former football greats."
- 11 A koala (bear). Australia, countable, uncountable
"Bunyip Bluegum was a tidy bear, he objected to whisker soup[.]"
- 12 A portable punching machine. countable, uncountable
- 13 A block covered with coarse matting, used to scour the deck. countable, uncountable
- 14 The fifteenth Lenormand card. countable, uncountable
- 15 Something difficult or tiresome; a burden or chore. US, colloquial, countable, uncountable
"That window can be a bear to open."
Verb
- 1 To endeavour to depress the price of, or prices in. transitive
"to bear a railroad stock"
- 2 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively. transitive
"They came bearing gifts."
- 3 behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself wordnet
- 4 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To carry (weapons, flags or symbols of rank, office, etc.) upon one's person, especially visibly; to be equipped with (weapons, etc.). transitive
"the right to bear arms"
- 5 have on one's person wordnet
Show 45 more definitions
- 6 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To wear (garments, pieces of jewellery, etc.). transitive
"The queen bore the royal scepter and crown as she processed into the hall."
- 7 cause to be born wordnet
- 8 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To carry (offspring in the womb), to be pregnant (with). intransitive, rare, transitive
"The scan showed that the ewe was bearing twins."
- 9 be pregnant with wordnet
- 10 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To have or display (a mark or other feature). transitive
"She still bears the scars from a cycling accident."
- 11 put up with something or somebody unpleasant wordnet
- 12 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To display (a particular heraldic device) on a shield or coat of arms; to be entitled to wear or use (a heraldic device) as a coat of arms. transitive
"The shield bore a red cross."
- 13 move while holding up or supporting wordnet
- 14 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To present or exhibit (a particular outward appearance); to have (a certain look). transitive
"He bore the look of a defeated man."
- 15 support or hold in a certain manner wordnet
- 16 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To have (a name, title, or designation). transitive
"The school still bears the name of its founder."
- 17 bring forth wordnet
- 18 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To possess or enjoy (recognition, renown, a reputation, etc.); to have (a particular price, value, or worth). transitive
"The dictator bears a terrible reputation for cruelty."
- 19 maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings) wordnet
- 20 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To have (interest or a specified rate of interest) stipulated in its terms. transitive, usually
"The bond bears a fixed interest rate of 3.5%."
- 21 bring in wordnet
- 22 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To have (an appendage, organ, etc.) as part of the body; (of a part of the body) to have (an appendage). transitive
"Only the male Indian elephant bears tusks."
- 23 take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person wordnet
- 24 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To carry or hold in the mind; to experience, entertain, harbour (an idea, feeling, or emotion). transitive
"to bear a grudge, to bear ill will"
- 25 have rightfully; of rights, titles, and offices wordnet
- 26 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To feel and show (respect, reverence, loyalty, etc.) to, towards, or unto a person or thing. rare, transitive
"The brothers had always borne one another respect."
- 27 have wordnet
- 28 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To possess inherently (a quality, attribute, power, or capacity); to have and display as an essential characteristic. transitive
"to bear life"
- 29 contain or hold; have within wordnet
- 30 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To have (a relation, correspondence, etc.) to something else. transitive
"The punishment bears no relation to the crime."
- 31 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To give (written or oral testimony or evidence); (figurative) to provide or constitute (evidence or proof), give witness. transitive
"His achievements bear testimony to his ability."
- 32 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To have (a certain meaning, intent, or effect). transitive
"This word no longer bears its original meaning."
- 33 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To behave or conduct (oneself). reflexive, transitive
"She bore herself well throughout the ordeal."
- 34 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To possess and use, to exercise (power or influence); to hold (an office, rank, or position). rare, transitive
"Every man should bear rule in his own house."
- 35 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To carry a burden or burdens. intransitive, obsolete, transitive
- 36 To carry or convey, literally or figuratively.; To take or bring (a person) with oneself; to conduct. obsolete, rare, transitive
"Bear them to my house."
- 37 To support, sustain, or endure.; To support or sustain; to hold up. transitive
"This stone bears most of the weight."
- 38 To support, sustain, or endure.; To endure or withstand (hardship, scrutiny, etc.); to tolerate; to be patient (with).
"The pain is too much for me to bear."
- 39 To support, sustain, or endure.; To sustain, or be answerable for (blame, expense, responsibility, etc.). transitive
"The hirer must bear the cost of any repairs."
- 40 To support, sustain, or endure.; To admit or be capable of (a meaning); to suffer or sustain without violence, injury, or change. transitive
"In all criminal cases the most favourable interpretation should be put on words that they can possibly bear."
- 41 To support, sustain, or endure.; To warrant, justify the need for. transitive
"This storm definitely bears monitoring."
- 42 To support, keep up, or maintain.; To afford, to be something to someone, to supply with something. transitive
"[…] admitted to that equal sky, / His faithful dog shall bear him company."
- 43 To support, keep up, or maintain.; To carry on, or maintain; to have. transitive
"[…] and he finds the Pleasure, and Credit of bearing a Part in the Conversation, and of having his Reasons sometimes approved and hearken'd to."
- 44 To press or impinge upon.; To push, thrust, press. intransitive, usually, with-on
"The rope has frayed where it bears on the rim of the wheel."
- 45 To press or impinge upon.; To take effect; to have influence or force; to be relevant. figuratively, intransitive
"to bring arguments to bear"
- 46 To press or impinge upon.; Of a weapon, to be aimed at an enemy or other target. intransitive
"The cannons were wheeled around to bear upon the advancing troops."
- 47 To produce, yield, give birth to.; To give birth to (someone or something) (may take the father of the direct object as an indirect object). ditransitive, transitive
"In Troy she becomes Paris’ wife, bearing him several children, all of whom die in infancy."
- 48 To produce, yield, give birth to.; To produce or yield something, such as fruit or crops. intransitive, transitive, uncommon
"This year our apple trees bore a good crop of fruit."
- 49 To be, or head, in a specific direction or azimuth (from somewhere). intransitive
"Carry on past the church and then bear left at the junction."
- 50 To gain or win. obsolete, transitive
"Some think to bear it by speaking a great word."
Adjective
- 1 Characterized by declining prices in securities markets or by belief that the prices will fall. not-comparable
"The great bear market starting in 1929 scared a whole generation of investors."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 The constellation Ursa Major.
"But he must ever watch the northern Bear, Who from her frozen height with jealous eye Confronts the Dog and the Hunter in the south, And is alone not dipt in Ocean's stream."
- 3 A male given name.
"Liam Payne, a former member of the boyband One Direction, has died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to local police. Payne, who was 31, leaves behind his seven-year-old son, Bear."
Example
"What?! You ate my chocolate bear?!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bear"?
Common synonyms include: bruin, ursid, abide, abide, abide with, abided.
How do you use "bear" in a sentence?
What?! You ate my chocolate bear?!
How do you pronounce "bear"?
Pronounced /bɛə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English bere, from Old English bera, from Proto-West Germanic *berō, from Proto-Germanic *berô, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (“brown”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Boar, Boare (“bear”), West Frisian bear (“bear”), Cimbrian, Mòcheno per (“bear”), Dutch beer (“bear”), German Bär (“bear”), German Low German Boor (“bear”), Limburgish baer, Béër (“bear”), Luxembourgish Bier (“bear”), Vilamovian baor, bar (“bear”), West Flemish beir (“bear”), Yiddish בער (ber, “bear”), Danish, Faroese and Norwegian Bokmål bjørn (“bear”), Icelandic, Swedish björn (“bear”), Norwegian Nynorsk bjøinn, bjønn, bjørn (“bear”), Gothic *𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌰 (*baira, “bear”). etymology notes This is generally taken to be from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerH- (“shining, brown”) (compare Tocharian A parno, Tocharian B perne (“radiant, luminous”), Lithuanian bė́ras (“brown”)), related to brown, bruin, and beaver. On this theory, the Germanic languages replaced the older name of the bear, *h₂ŕ̥tḱos, with the epithet "brown one", presumably due to taboo avoidance; compare Russian медве́дь (medvédʹ, “bear”, literally “honey-eater”). However, Ringe (2006:106) doubts the existence of a root *bʰer- meaning "brown" ("an actual PIE word of [the requisite] shape and meaning is not recoverable") and suggests that a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰwer- (“wild animal”) "should therefore perhaps be preferred", implying a Germanic merger of *ǵʰw and *gʷʰ (*gʷʰ may sometimes result in Germanic *b, perhaps e.g. in *bidjaną, but it also seems to have given the g in gun and the w in warm).
Etymology 2
From Middle English beren (“carry, bring forth”), from Old English beran (“to carry, bear, bring”), from Proto-West Germanic *beran, from Proto-Germanic *beraną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti, from *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”). Akin to Old High German beran (“carry”), Dutch baren, Norwegian Bokmål bære, Norwegian Nynorsk bera, German gebären, Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌰𐌽 (bairan), Sanskrit भरति (bharati), Latin ferō, and Ancient Greek φέρω (phérō), Albanian bie (“to bring, to bear”), Russian брать (bratʹ, “to take”), Persian بردن (bordan, “to take, to carry”).
Etymology 3
From Middle English bere (“pillowcase”), of obscure origin, but compare Old English hlēorbera (“cheek-cover”). Possibly cognate to Low German büre, whence German Bühre, which in turn has been compared to French bure.
Etymology 4
* As an English surname, related to bear * As a German surname, spelling variant of Baer and Bahr