bear witness
idiom
1
: to show that something exists or is true
—+ to
His success bears witness to the value of hard work.
Rising ticket sales bear witness to the band's popularity.
2
formal
: to make a statement saying that one saw or knows something
asked to bear witness to the facts
She was accused of bearing false witness at the trial.
Examples of bear witness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Other works on paper from this period bear witness, in code, to the atrocities unfolding as Argentina’s civil society deteriorated, as well as that of its neighbors.
—
Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Yet across these differences runs a common insistence that poetry remains capable of bearing witness at precisely those moments when other languages fail.
—Alex Averbuch, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
When Leo Lewis O’Neil’s documentary, Slauson Rec, about the actor’s fitful attempt to host a theater workshop premiered at Cannes in 2025, audiences were uncomfortable bearing witness to LaBeouf’s rage.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
If voices are raised, half of West Austin may bear witness.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bear witness
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Daniel R. Quiles, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Yet across these differences runs a common insistence that poetry remains capable of bearing witness at precisely those moments when other languages fail.
—Alex Averbuch, Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
When Leo Lewis O’Neil’s documentary, Slauson Rec, about the actor’s fitful attempt to host a theater workshop premiered at Cannes in 2025, audiences were uncomfortable bearing witness to LaBeouf’s rage.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
If voices are raised, half of West Austin may bear witness.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bear witness
Cite this Entry
“Bear witness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bear%20witness. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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