English Profile

bear · noun C

/ber/Full view

bear

A2 a large, strong, wild animal with thick fur

Dictionary examples:

a brown/black bear

a bear cub

Learner example:

I love bears, you know. (Key English Test; A2; Chinese)

bear · verb

/ber/

Word family

Nouns: bearer

Adjectives: bearable, unbearable

Verbs: bear

Adverbs: unbearably

bear (ACCEPT)

C1 T to accept something unpleasant

Dictionary examples:

Since you will bear most of the responsibility, you should get the rewards.

He couldn't bear to see the dog in pain.

Learner example:

Consequently, you must bear the hassles of public transport. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Polish)

bear a/no/some, etc., resemblance to sb/sth

C2 to be similar to someone or something

Dictionary example:

He bears a striking resemblance to his father.

Learner example:

Modern buildings should bear some resemblance to the old ones and therefore complete the image of the city preserved through time. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

bear (HAVE)

C1 to have or show a particular name, picture, or symbol

Dictionary example:

The shop bore his family name.

Learner example:

I have been to many places, but this which I will never forget about is the island Lefkada, which is located in the north-west of Greece - in the Ionian Pelagos - and, especially, the capital of it, which bears the same name. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

bear left/right

C1 to move or turn to the left or right

Dictionary example:

Bear right at the next set of traffic lights.

Learner example:

The taxi has to bear left at the fork and then you can see my house, 200 yards on the right si[de], it's a white house with the number 53. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; German)

bear (HAVE CHILD)

C2 to give birth to a child

Dictionary example:

She has been told that she will never bear children.

Learner example:

Women can still bear children at the age of 30. In the past this was not possible because either the mother or the baby would have died. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

bear fruit

C2 If something that someone does bears fruit, it produces successful results.

Dictionary example:

Some of their research is now bearing fruit, and the results are interesting.

Learner example:

Being friendly at work may not necessarily be easy, but it always bears fruit. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

grin and bear it

C2 to accept an unpleasant or difficult situation because there is nothing you can do to improve it

Dictionary example:

I hate my job, but I'm just going to have to grin and bear it for a while.

Learner example:

As I couldn't simply get up and go away, I just had to grin and bear it for a little while longer. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)