plural bear or bears
1
: 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
a mother bear and her cubs
—sometimes used figuratively to describe a large mana tall, friendly bear of a man
My father can be a grumpy old bear when he's tired.
Note: In informal British English, a person who becomes angry or annoyed very easily is (like) a bear with a sore head.
2
finance
: a person who expects the price of stocks to go down and who sells them to avoid losing money
The bears outnumbered the bulls on Wall Street today.
3
US, informal
: something that is difficult to do or deal with
This oven is a bear to clean. [=this oven is very hard to clean]
1
: to accept or endure (something)
He bore [=tolerated] their insults patiently.
—usually used in questions and negative statements with can, can't, could, and couldn'tHe could hardly bear [=stand] the pain.
I can't bear cold weather. [=I strongly dislike cold weather]
I couldn't bear the suspense.
I can't bear it if/when people behave like that!
I can't bear doing this. = I can't bear to do this.
How can you bear to see him again after the way he's treated you?
I couldn't bear you to get the wrong idea.
I couldn't bear his behavior. = His behavior was more than I could bear.
I couldn't bear the thought/idea of moving again.
(US)
—+ forI couldn't bear for you to get the wrong idea.
2
: to be worthy of (something) : to deserve or allow (something)
a joke too silly to bear repeating [=a joke that is too silly to be worth repeating]
It's so horrible it doesn't bear thinking about! [=it's so horrible that I don't want to think about it]
a symphony that can bear comparison with Beethoven's best
a plan that will not bear [=withstand] close scrutiny/examination
suspicious behavior that bears watching [=that should be watched]
3
: to assume or accept (something, such as cost or responsibility)
The company agreed to bear the costs/expenses.
The criminals must bear full responsibility for the deaths of these innocent people.
Who will bear the blame for this tragedy?
4
somewhat formal + literary
: to move while holding up and supporting (something) : carry
The demonstrators bore banners and sang songs.
They arrived bearing gifts.
The leaves were borne aloft/away by the wind.
disease-bearing germs [=germs that carry and spread diseases]
germ-borne diseases [=diseases that are carried and spread by germs]
He believes that citizens should have the right to bear arms. [=to carry weapons]
Note: If something is borne in on/upon you, it is made very clear to you. This is a formal phrase.
5
a
: to have (something) as a feature or characteristic
His leg was badly injured in the accident and it still bears [=shows] the scars/wounds/marks.
His face bears marks/signs of suffering.
Your conclusion bears [=has] no relation to the evidence.
She bore a resemblance to her aunt. [=she looked like her aunt]
b
: to have a surface on which something is written, drawn, etc.
The cornerstone bears a Latin inscription.
a letter bearing the date of 1900
a shield bearing strange symbols
c
: to have (a name, price, etc.)
He bore the name (of) John.
The store sells imported goods bearing [=having, with] high prices.
d
: to have or hold (a feeling) in the mind
She still bears a grudge against him. = She still bears him a grudge.
She says she bears him no resentment for the way he treated her.
I can't deny the love I still bear [=feel] for her.
6
a
formal
: to give birth to (a child)
She has borne three children.
She has borne her husband three children.
b
: to produce (something)
a bank account that bears interest = an interest-bearing bank account
a bush that bears red flowers
trees that bear fruit
7
: to support the weight of (something)
How much weight is that wall able to bear?
8
: to go, move, or turn in a specified direction
Bear south.
The road bears (to the) right.
When you get to the fork in the road, you should bear [=turn] left.
Cite this Entry
“Bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/bear. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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