Language Research

bear · noun C

/beər/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

/beər/

Word family

Nouns: bearer

Adjectives: bearable, unbearable

Verbs: bear

bear (ACCEPT)

B2 T to accept someone or something unpleasant

Dictionary examples:

I like her but I can't bear her friends.

I can't bear being bored.

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

How can you bear to talk to him?

Learner example:

And I'd like to stay in a log cabin because I can't bear sleeping in a tent. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

bear (sb/sth) in mind

B2 to remember to consider someone or something that may be useful in the future

Dictionary example:

Thank you for your advice, I'll bear it in mind.

Learner example:

It would be a great opportunity, bearing in mind that we are majoring in fashion journalism. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

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

C2 to be similar to someone or something

Dictionary example:

He bears a striking resemblance to his father.

Learner example:

The concert bore no resemblance to any other I have been to, firstly due to the location, and secondly thanks to the spontaneity, yet impressive precision of the performance - the two factors which created the unique atmosphere of the event. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

bear a grudge ()

C2 to continue to have a bad feeling towards someone

Dictionary example:

They were rude to her in the past, but she's not the kind of woman who bears grudges.

Learner example:

They take everything for granted and [this] leaves them completely unprepared for the harsh reality of life - not to mention that they are likely to bear a grudge. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

bear (NAME)

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

Dictionary example:

The shop bore his family name.

Learner example:

He founded at least 17 cities bearing his name, as centres of art and culture. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Greek)

bear left/right

C1 to turn 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:

Our decision is just beginning to bear fruit.

Learner example:

Although a new hotel and conference centre would greatly improve the image of our town, I consider it a costly investment that might not bear fruit. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

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)