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Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?
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a
: something that is carried : load
dropped his burden of firewood
b
: duty, responsibility
forced to bear the burden of caring for her aging parents
lowering the tax burden on the middle class
2
: something oppressive or worrisome
a heavy burden of guilt
was a huge financial burden on his family
3
a
: the bearing of a load
—usually used in the phrase beast of burden
b
: capacity for carrying cargo
a ship of a hundred tons burden
4
: load sense 11
worm burdens of cattle
cancer burden
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Verb
I don't wish to burden you with my problems.
burdened the dog with a little backpack
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Soebroto, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023
But as the crisis faded into the past, and more and more banks grumbled about the burden of complying with the new rules, Congress decided to provide relief from the Dodd-Frank legislation.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2023
That amount is small in comparison with the economic burden of the condition, said Kimber MacGibbon, executive director of the HER Foundation.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2023
The legislation was designed to decrease the burden on tenants by requiring landlords and homeowners to make sure long-lasting detectors are installed, so renters would not have to change the batteries so frequently.
—Alex Nitkin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2023
As a freelance filmmaker, he was suddenly confronted with the economic burden of paying for the drug, which can run some $300 for a vial, or a month’s supply.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2023
The recent storms have only added to the burden of residents in the county, who are still recovering from earthquakes in December and January that left nearly 100 structures unsafe to occupy and hundreds of others needing safety repairs.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2023
But even though short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 is known to be a leading contributor to the global burden of diseases and mortality, the global patterns of PM2.5 concentration aren't often studied on those shorter timescales.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2023
Texas lawmakers approved a law that year allowing the costs to be securitized, so the utilities could spread them out over time and ease the financial burden on customers.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 7 Mar. 2023
Aryelle Siclait, Women's Health, 7 Feb. 2023
That said, the cost of fuel isn't likely to burden the likes of the Kardashians, Sylvester Stallone, or other Hollywood stars often found behind the wheel of this elite off-roader.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 19 Jan. 2023
The narrative gods now see fit to burden John Dutton another way—by ruining his business.
—Joshua St. Clair, Men's Health, 19 Dec. 2022
Mariah said no one in their family was aware that Sylvestre was addicted to anything, but noted that her brother preferred to deal with issues on his own rather than burden the rest of the family.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2022
These disadvantages are also more likely to burden people of color, which may be why most studies of maternal-fetal surgery have lacked racial and ethnic diversity.
—Abigail Wilpers And Kristen Gosnell, STAT, 1 Oct. 2022
Woods, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award-winning author, offers sympathetic insight into how suffering and secrets can burden families for generations.
—Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022
Office of Management and Budget director Cris Johnston voiced concerns about how House Bill 1001 could burden his office and the Department of Revenue, especially if the legislature passes another round of tax refunds.
—Rachel Fradette, The Indianapolis Star, 27 July 2022
What the film reveals is how much perpetual strain and burden these cases place on Crump himself.
—Rodney Ho, ajc, 20 June 2022
See More
Noun
Despite the burden on local governments, state and federal governments should also work to minimize accidents, Schade said, such as by phasing out the production of plastics, which are made up of substances that are risky to transport and produce.
—Ashley Soebroto, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2023
But as the crisis faded into the past, and more and more banks grumbled about the burden of complying with the new rules, Congress decided to provide relief from the Dodd-Frank legislation.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2023
That amount is small in comparison with the economic burden of the condition, said Kimber MacGibbon, executive director of the HER Foundation.
—Alice Callahan, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2023
The legislation was designed to decrease the burden on tenants by requiring landlords and homeowners to make sure long-lasting detectors are installed, so renters would not have to change the batteries so frequently.
—Alex Nitkin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2023
As a freelance filmmaker, he was suddenly confronted with the economic burden of paying for the drug, which can run some $300 for a vial, or a month’s supply.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2023
The recent storms have only added to the burden of residents in the county, who are still recovering from earthquakes in December and January that left nearly 100 structures unsafe to occupy and hundreds of others needing safety repairs.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2023
But even though short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 is known to be a leading contributor to the global burden of diseases and mortality, the global patterns of PM2.5 concentration aren't often studied on those shorter timescales.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2023
Texas lawmakers approved a law that year allowing the costs to be securitized, so the utilities could spread them out over time and ease the financial burden on customers.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 7 Mar. 2023
Verb
But what is a blessing to others can sometimes be a curse for Pisces, since people will likely burden them with their problems.
—Aryelle Siclait, Women's Health, 7 Feb. 2023
That said, the cost of fuel isn't likely to burden the likes of the Kardashians, Sylvester Stallone, or other Hollywood stars often found behind the wheel of this elite off-roader.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 19 Jan. 2023
The narrative gods now see fit to burden John Dutton another way—by ruining his business.
—Joshua St. Clair, Men's Health, 19 Dec. 2022
Mariah said no one in their family was aware that Sylvestre was addicted to anything, but noted that her brother preferred to deal with issues on his own rather than burden the rest of the family.
—Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2022
These disadvantages are also more likely to burden people of color, which may be why most studies of maternal-fetal surgery have lacked racial and ethnic diversity.
—Abigail Wilpers And Kristen Gosnell, STAT, 1 Oct. 2022
Woods, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award-winning author, offers sympathetic insight into how suffering and secrets can burden families for generations.
—Becky Meloan, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022
Office of Management and Budget director Cris Johnston voiced concerns about how House Bill 1001 could burden his office and the Department of Revenue, especially if the legislature passes another round of tax refunds.
—Rachel Fradette, The Indianapolis Star, 27 July 2022
What the film reveals is how much perpetual strain and burden these cases place on Crump himself.
—Rodney Ho, ajc, 20 June 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'burden.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb
Middle English, from Old English byrthen; akin to Old English beran to carry — more at bear
Noun (2)
Middle English burdoun, from Anglo-French burdun a drone bass, of imitative origin
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1541, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of burden was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing burden
Dictionary Entries Near burden
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burden. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
burden
2 of 2 noun1
: the refrain or chorus of a song
2
: a main idea : gist
Etymology
Noun
Old English byrthen "load, burden"
Noun
an altered form of earlier bourdon "a refrain or chorus of a song," from Middle English burdoun (same meaning), from early French burdun "bass horn"
Medical Definition
burden
noun
bur·den
ˈbərd-ᵊn 
: load sense 3
worm burden
cancer burden
Legal Definition
burden
noun
bur·den
1
: something that is a duty, obligation, or responsibility
the prosecution has the burden of proving every element of the offense
the statute imposes undue burdens
burden of pleading the necessary elements
2
More from Merriam-Webster on burden
Nglish: Translation of burden for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of burden for Arabic Speakers
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