\ ˈber 
\
\ plural bears
Definition of bear
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 or plural bear : any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora) of large heavy mammals of America and Eurasia that have long shaggy hair, rudimentary tails, and plantigrade feet and feed largely on fruit, plant matter, and insects as well as on flesh
2 : a surly, uncouth, burly, or shambling person
a tall, friendly bear of a man
3
[probably from the proverb about selling the bearskin before catching the bear] : one that sells securities or commodities in expectation of a price decline — compare bull
4 : something difficult to do or deal with
the oven is a bear to clean
bear
verb\ ˈber \
\bore\ ˈbȯr \; borne also born\ ˈbȯrn \; bearing
\; borne also born\ ˈbȯrn \; bearingDefinition of bear (Entry 2 of 3)
1a : to accept or allow oneself to be subjected to especially without giving way
couldn't bear the pain I can't bear seeing you cry
b : to call for as suitable or essential it bears watching
d : to support the weight of : sustain
e : to hold above, on top, or aloft
f : to admit of : allow
2a : to move while holding up and supporting (something)
b : to have as a feature or characteristic
bears a likeness to her grandmother
c : to be equipped or furnished with (something)
d : to have as an identification
bore the name of John
e : to hold in the mind or emotions
bear malice
g : to give as testimony bear false witness
h : disseminate
1a : to go or incline in an indicated direction
b : to extend in a direction indicated or implied
c : to be situated : lie
d : to become directed
e : to force one's way
b : to exert influence or force
3 : to produce fruit : yield
4 : to support a weight or strain
—often used with up
bear a hand bear arms bear fruit bear in mind bear with
: to join in and help out
1 : to carry or possess arms
2 : to serve as a soldier
: to come to satisfying fruition, production, or development : to produce a desired result or reward
: to think of (something) especially as a warning : remember
: to be indulgent, patient, or forbearing with (someone)
Bear
geographical name\ ˈber \
\Definition of Bear (Entry 3 of 3)
river 350 miles (563 kilometers) long in northern Utah, southwestern Wyoming, and southeastern Idaho flowing to Great Salt Lake
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Other Words from bear
Noun
bearlike \ ˈber-ˌlīk \ adjective
\ adjective
Examples of bear in a Sentence
Noun Traffic in Knoxville, Tennessee, can be a bear anytime, but in late spring the slowdowns on Neyland Drive are often caused by Canada geese. — Joelle Anthony, Audubon, November-December 2004 True, the rally has been around the corner since Memorial Day. But bears have dominated market sentiment for so long since the Federal Reserve Board raised interest rates last February, that traders feel the market is headed for a major tectonic shift … — Anthony Ramirez, New York Times, 19 July 1994 Hikers in the woods are far more likely to wear a bell to deter bears than to take precautions against bees. But bears kill two to seven people in North America annually, bee stings kill 600 to 900. — Allan J. Davison, Chemical & Engineering News, 15 Mar. 1993
a mother bear and her cubs
The bears outnumbered the bulls on Wall Street today. Verb A stone slab bearing 3,000-year-old writing previously unknown to scholars has been found in the Mexican state of Veracruz, and archaeologists say it is an example of the oldest script ever discovered in the Western Hemisphere. — John Noble Wilford, New York Times, 15 Sept. 2006 Large public buildings often bear only a loose resemblance to what was originally in the minds of the architects who designed them. Things get cut back to save money; somebody has second thoughts about the way part of the building will function; it takes so long to get public approval that the original idea starts to seem dated … — Paul Goldberger, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2002 The most famous work of Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), of course, was purifying milk with the process that now bears his name. — Brendan Miniter, American Enterprise, September/October 1998 In so-called parking schemes, securities aren't carried on the books of the true owner but are temporarily sold to someone else with the understanding that the seller will continue to bear any risk of loss and reap any profits. — James B. Stewart, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 1993 As a science fiction buff, many years ago, I remember being particularly fascinated by tales of genetic surgery. Imagine the surgeon … peering through the electron microscope, repairing the sickle-cell gene and returning the ovum to its mother, who would then bear a normal child. — Richard Novick, New York Times Book Review, 15 Feb. 1987 The sight of Niña already there, snugged down as if she had been at home a month, finished Martín Alonso Pinzón. Older than Columbus, ill from the hardships of the voyage, mortified by his snub from the Sovereigns, he could bear no more. — Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1974
a symphony that can bear comparison with Beethoven's best
The company agreed to bear the costs.
The criminals must bear full responsibility for the deaths of these innocent people.
Who will bear the blame for this tragedy?
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Another officer, dressed in a white uniform worn by upper-level supervisors, an eight-point hat and a trench coat, was doubled over in a hallway, hacking from the bear and pepper spray.
—
Peter Hermann, Anchorage Daily News, "Beaten with their own clubs, choked by bear spray: How battered D.C. police made a stand against the Capitol mob," 15 Jan. 2021 Another officer, dressed in a white uniform worn by upper-level supervisors, an eight-point hat and a trench coat, was doubled over in a hallway, hacking from the bear and pepper spray.
—
Peter Hermann, Washington Post, "How battered D.C. police made a stand against the Capitol mob," 14 Jan. 2021 Better yet, there’s a solid chance that bear will be wearing a coat other than black.
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Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, "5 Western Muzzleloader Hunts To Put On Your Calendar," 4 Jan. 2021 Where to Eat: A local at my campground called the huckleberry bear claws at Polebridge Mercantile the best thing to eat in Montana.
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Emily Pennington, Outside Online, "Nature Is in Charge at Glacier National Park," 18 Dec. 2020 According to a press release from the Missouri Department of Conservation, the state’s bear population is expected to double in less than 10 years.
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Michael Hollan, Fox News, "Missouri approves framework for black bear hunting," 15 Dec. 2020 Swift, 31, celebrated New Year's Eve by bidding the year farewell in a rather unconventional way: while dressed as a bear.
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Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE.com, "Taylor Swift Says Goodbye to 'Weird' 2020 While Wearing a Bear Costume," 31 Dec. 2020 Visiting the Haida Gwaii archipelago and glimpsing an elusive spirit bear are high on my dream list.
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Usa Today Travel Team, USA TODAY, "Pandemic wanderlust: 100 places we're yearning to travel in 2021 and beyond," 31 Dec. 2020 It’s a baby romper that’s shaped and textured like a plush, fuzzy bear.
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Krystin Arneson, CNN Underscored, "Save on tons of top brands at Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale," 30 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Questions have swirled about how such an important government building, with so many security agencies available to assist, could be overcome by a mob of people wielding bats, bear repellent, and brute force.
—
Author: Devlin Barrett, Missy Ryan, Anchorage Daily News, "Inspectors general of several federal agencies open sweeping review of security and intelligence surrounding Capitol attack," 15 Jan. 2021 Rioters employed bear spray and other chemical irritants that blinded officers and threw smoke grenades that turned the tunnel pitch black.
—
Peter Hermann, Washington Post, "How battered D.C. police made a stand against the Capitol mob," 14 Jan. 2021 The accompanying photography and video—in their breadth of style, composition, and vibrancy—bear witness to the suffering and resiliency of a city in crisis.
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Monica Racic, The New Yorker, "The Year in New Yorker Interactive Storytelling," 29 Dec. 2020 The agency sets bear quotas in each of four zones to meet objectives, such as reducing nuisance complaints and agricultural damage.
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Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin hunters exceeded bear harvest quotas in all zones," 1 Nov. 2020 Portions of this discussion have been published before, but bear repeating.
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Kevin Dayhoff, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Dayhoff: Once popular Wampler’s pumpkin contest a part of Carroll County’s Halloween lore," 23 Oct. 2020 Both the uniformed military and the president bear responsibility for this situation.
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Mackubin Owens, Washington Examiner, "Our toxic civil-military relations," 22 Oct. 2020 Conservatives upset over property destruction during recent protests have portrayed him as a patriot exercising his right to bear arms during unrest.
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Arkansas Online, "Illinois teen charged in protest slayings posts $2M bail," 20 Nov. 2020 Mexico is one of just three countries – along with the United States and Guatemala – with the constitutional right to bear arms.
—
Hollie Mckay, Fox News, "Are Mexico's stringent gun control laws aiding a rise in cartel violence?," 14 Nov. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bear.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster and LACMA: Words and...
Merriam-Webster and LACMA: Words and Pictures
When a dictionary talks to a museum
Dictionary Entries near bear
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for bear
Last Updated
22 Jan 2021
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bear. Accessed 23 Jan. 2021.
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More Definitions for bear
bear
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of bear
(Entry 1 of 2)
: any one of a group of large and heavy animals that have thick hair and sharp claws and that can stand on two legs like a person
finance : a person who expects the price of stocks to go down and who sells them to avoid losing money
US, informal : something that is difficult to do or deal with
bear
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of bear (Entry 2 of 2)
: to accept or endure (something)
: to be worthy of (something) : to deserve or allow (something)
: to assume or accept (something, such as cost or responsibility)
See the full definition for bear in the English Language Learners Dictionary
bear
noun\ ˈber \
\ plural bears
Kids Definition of bear
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 or plural bear : a large heavy mammal with long shaggy hair and a very short tail
2 : a person resembling a bear in size or behavior
a large bear of a man He acted like a grumpy old bear.
bear
verbbore\ ˈbȯr \; borne\ ˈbȯrn \; bearing
Kids Definition of bear (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : support entry 1 sense 1 bear weight
2 : to move while holding up and supporting : carry They came bearing gifts.
3 : to hold in the mind
She bears a grudge.
4 : to put up with
I can't bear the suspense.
5 : to assume or accept
bear the blame
6 : to have as a feature or characteristic
She bears a resemblance to her sister.
7 : give birth to
bear children
8 : produce entry 1 sense 1 trees bearing fruit bear interest
9 : to move or lie in the indicated direction
Bear right at the fork.
10 : to have a relation to the matter at hand
These facts don't bear on the question.
bear down on bear in mind bear up bear with
: to push or lean down on
Bear down hard on your pencil.
: to think of especially as a warning
Bear in mind that you only get one chance.
: to have strength or courage
She's bearing up under the stress.
: to be patient with
Bear with me.
bear
transitive verb\ ˈba(ə)r, ˈbe(ə)r \
\bore\ ˈbō(ə)r, ˈbȯ(ə)r \; borne\ ˈbō(ə)rn, ˈbȯ(ə)rn \ also born\ ˈbȯ(ə)rn \; bearing
\; borne\ ˈbō(ə)rn, ˈbȯ(ə)rn \ also born\ ˈbȯ(ə)rn \; bearingMedical Definition of bear
: to give birth to
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bear
verb\ ˈbar \
\bore\ ˈbōr \; borne\ ˈbōrn \ also born
\; borne\ ˈbōrn \ also bornLegal Definition of bear
1 : to physically carry (as an object or message)
the right of the people to keep and bear arms — U.S. Constitution amend. II
2 : yield the stock will bear a dividend
: to relate or have relevance
will admit evidence bearing on her defense
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Time Traveler for bear
The first known use of bear was before the 12th century
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