bearing 1 of 3

Definition of bearingnext
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bearing

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adjective

bearing

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verb

present participle of bear
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as in carrying
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in packing
to wear or have on one's person the right to bear arms

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in leading
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the path will bear north after that marked tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in yielding
to produce as revenue an interest-bearing savings account

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun bearing contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bearing are carriage, demeanor, deportment, manner, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

When is it sensible to use carriage instead of bearing?

The meanings of carriage and bearing largely overlap; however, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

When could demeanor be used to replace bearing?

The synonyms demeanor and bearing are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When might deportment be a better fit than bearing?

While in some cases nearly identical to bearing, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

In what contexts can manner take the place of bearing?

While the synonyms manner and bearing are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

Where would mien be a reasonable alternative to bearing?

The words mien and bearing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

How does the noun bearing contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bearing are carriage, demeanor, deportment, manner, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

When is it sensible to use carriage instead of bearing?

The meanings of carriage and bearing largely overlap; however, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

When could demeanor be used to replace bearing?

The synonyms demeanor and bearing are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When might deportment be a better fit than bearing?

While in some cases nearly identical to bearing, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

In what contexts can manner take the place of bearing?

While the synonyms manner and bearing are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

Where would mien be a reasonable alternative to bearing?

The words mien and bearing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

How does the noun bearing contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bearing are carriage, demeanor, deportment, manner, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.

a woman of regal bearing

When is it sensible to use carriage instead of bearing?

The meanings of carriage and bearing largely overlap; however, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.

the kind of carriage learned at boarding school

When could demeanor be used to replace bearing?

The synonyms demeanor and bearing are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.

the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter

When might deportment be a better fit than bearing?

While in some cases nearly identical to bearing, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.

your deportment was atrocious

In what contexts can manner take the place of bearing?

While the synonyms manner and bearing are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.

the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders

Where would mien be a reasonable alternative to bearing?

The words mien and bearing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.

a mien of supreme self-satisfaction

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bearing
Noun
The system incorporates high-efficiency components such as a refined bearing assembly and upgraded compressor and turbine structures, which together enhance energy conversion efficiency. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026 His father was a wheeler-dealer who lived by quick wits and the sweat of his brow, dabbling in bootlegged sake, swine farming, loan sharking, and later pachinko parlors—Japan’s ubiquitous low-stakes gambling game of clattering steel ball bearings. Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Kaneland’s Angelina Gochis is the measuring stick on any wrestling bracket bearing her name. Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026 Many waved pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flags bearing the lion-and-sun emblem. Yarden Segev, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bearing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bearing
Noun
  • Adding fun and pop culture relevance Target has overhauled its hardlines category, which includes items like consumer electronics, books and toys.
    Melissa Repko, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
  • But the contemporary relevance of the SBA is hazy, which complicates the legal landscape for live sports viewing.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The analysis, which included 55 studies encompassing more than a half-million people, found that those who had a spiritual belief or religious practice were less likely to have a harmful relationship with alcohol, drugs or cigarettes.
    Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
  • That depth of relationship is bearing fruit commercially and creatively.
    Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • These AIs have shown behaviors as varied as deception and blackmail, to scheming and cheating by hacking software.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Early prototypes validated ground operations and taxi behavior, while later versions introduced flight testing and expanded operational capabilities.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Fox Entertainment and Fremantle are co-producing, with Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) serving as showrunner and exec producing alongside premiere episode director McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The plant in question actually consists of 70 Jurupa oak (Quercus palmeri) stem clusters, only three feet tall, that stand together as a flowering, non-acorn producing clonal colony in the form of a thicket, 82 feet long by 26 feet wide, estimated to be at least 13,000 years old.
    Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Google’s latest lawsuit pushes the company to do more, such as warning users about the risks of having long emotional conversations with its chatbot.
    Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Brunson finished with 16 points and 15 assists but appreciated his coach having his back.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Frontex's standing corps is set to reach 10,000 officers by the end of the year -- double the number employed in 2021 -- reflecting the policy shift and expectations of sustained pressure along key routes.
    LEFTERIS PITARAKIS, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
  • The perfect storm for mosquito breeding Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In relating her story this way, Gisèle is restoring to the record her waking life.
    Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Morello himself serves as kind of a guide in the film, relating his own love of metal growing up as a Black kid in a conservative, ethnically homogeneous suburb of Chicago.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • ValenSil Technologies, for one, was growing at a pretty good clip heading into 2025.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Reprisal attacks were widespread, hitting at least 20 states, and days after the chaos, the charred husks of vehicles and Oxxo convenience stores still were visible heading west out of Guadalajara, the state capital, toward the Pacific.
    Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bearing. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.

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