a large, heavy mammal with shaggy fur and a very short tail, typically living in forests, to endure an ordeal or difficulty, to carry or support

grin and bear it, put the bear in the cage, have a bear by the tail

bear market, bear fruit, bear witness

Formal and Informal Expressions of bear

In different contexts, you can replace 'bear' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'endure, support' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'put up with, deal with' is a commonplace synonym.

bear: Explore its Definition & Usage

bear Definition

1a large, heavy mammal with shaggy fur and a very short tail, typically living in forests
2to endure an ordeal or difficulty
3to carry or support

Using bear: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bear" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I saw a bear in the woods.
Example
She couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
Example
He had to bear the burden of his family's financial problems.
Example
The bridge can't bear the weight of the truck.

bear Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for bear

Antonyms for bear

Idioms Using bear

grin and bear it
to endure a difficult or unpleasant situation with good humor
Example
Even though he hated his job, he decided to grin and bear it until he found a better one.
put the bear in the cage
to solve a difficult problem
Example
After months of negotiations, they finally put the bear in the cage and reached an agreement.
have a bear by the tail
to have a difficult or dangerous situation under control
Example
Managing a large team can be like having a bear by the tail, but she handles it well.

Phrases with bear

bear market
a market in which share prices are falling, encouraging selling
Example
The stock market experienced a bear market last year.
bear fruit
to produce good results
Example
Their hard work finally bore fruit when they won the championship.
bear witness
to provide evidence or testimony
Example
The victim's friend was called to bear witness in court.

Origins of bear

from Old English 'bera', related to Dutch 'beer' and German 'Bär'

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Summary: bear in Brief

The term 'bear' [ber] refers to a large, heavy mammal with shaggy fur and a very short tail, as well as to the act of enduring an ordeal or carrying a burden. Examples include 'I saw a bear in the woods,' and 'He had to bear the burden of his family's financial problems.' Phrases like 'bear market' and idioms like 'grin and bear it' extend the meaning to financial markets and coping with difficulties, respectively.