bear

[ber]

bear Definition

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

• animal
• creature
• endure
• tolerate
• support
• carry
• sustain

Antonyms for bear

• avoid
• shun
• evade
• escape

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.