burden

¹burden

noun

Definition of BURDEN

1

a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported <the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens>

Synonyms burden, cargo, draft, freight, haul, lading, loading, payload, weight

Related Words consignment; boatload, carload, shipload, trainload, truckload, wagonload; ballast, deadweight; overload, surcharge; bale, bundle, pack, package, packet, parcel, shipment; manifest; body, bulk, mass

2

something one must do because of prior agreement <the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game>

Synonyms burden, charge, commitment, devoir, do [archaic], duty, imperative, incumbency, need, office, responsibility

Related Words oath, pledge, promise, troth, vow, word; arrangement, prearrangement, setup; compact, contract, covenant, pact, trust; debt, payment, tribute; compulsion, constraint, restraint; must, requirement; coercion, duress, force; appointment, engagement, reservation; burden, onus

Near Antonyms grace, postponement, stay; discharge, ease, exemption, release, relief, waiver; loophole; alternative, choice, option, pick, preference, selection