plural burdens
1
: something heavy that is carried : load
They feared the donkey would collapse under the extra burden.
2
: someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with
a (heavy) burden of sorrow/guilt
She had to bear/shoulder the burden of caring for her aging parents.
The tax burden has been falling increasingly on the middle class. [=middle class people have been paying a greater portion of taxes]
The burden of proof is on the plaintiff, since the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. [=the plaintiff must prove that the defendant is guilty]
the company's large debt burden [=the large amount of money that the company owes]
—often + onHis illness has placed a huge financial burden on the family.
I'm sorry to be such a burden on you.
burdens; burdened; burdening
: to make (someone) hold or carry something heavy or accept or deal with something difficult : to put a heavy burden on (someone)
I don't wish to burden you with my problems.
—usually used as (be) burdenedBurdened with supplies and equipment, she headed to the camp.
For the rest of his life he was burdened with the knowledge that he had done nothing to help them.
burdened [=weighed down] by guilt
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/burden. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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