
Bear and bare are pronounced the same but have different meanings.
| Examples: Bear in a sentence | Examples: Bare in a sentence |
|---|---|
| The desk could hardly bear the weight of all the books. | The apartment is bare, but it will feel like home once I decorate it. |
| The tree no longer bears fruit. | Let me bare my soul to you in a song. |
| Rajesh froze when he saw a bear approaching his tent. | Anna does the bare minimum at the office. |
Bear can be used as a verb to mean “carry” or “support.”
Example: “Bear” to mean “carry” or “support”
The elevator can’t bear any more weight.
Bear can also be used as a verb to mean “endure.” The adjective “unbearable” (i.e., “insufferable”) relates to this meaning.
Example: “Bear” to mean “endure”
I can’t bear the thought of losing you.
Note
As an irregular verb, the past participle of bear is not formed by adding “-ed.” Instead, it has two past participles: born and borne.
In all cases except those referring to childbirth, borne is the correct past participle to use (“you have borne the cost” vs. “I wasn’t born yesterday”).
Bear can be used as a noun to refer to the animal.
Example: Bear as a noun
Don’t bring food into camp, or you might attract a bear.
Bears can run faster than humans.
Bear is also used (as a verb) in a range of expressions.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bear with me while I try to find the book you’re looking for. | Be patient with me |
| Please bear in mind that this is just one possibility. | Take into account/remember |
| I hope Paula’s efforts finally bear fruit. | Have positive results |
| The increasing demand bears witness to the fact that it is a good product. | Is proof of/confirms |
| If you want to work full-time, you’ll have to bear the cost of childcare. | Suffer the cost |
| Joe couldn’t bear the pain of losing his dog. | Endure the pain |
| Andy disagreed with his teammates’ decision, but he decided to grin and bear it. | Accept something you dislike |
| That child really bears a resemblance to Abdullah. | Looks like |
| The sculpture bears the mark of true craftsmanship. | Displays |
Bare is a verb meaning “uncover.” It can be used literally or figuratively to describe the act of exposing something.
Example: Bare as a verb
You shouldn’t bare your teeth to a gorilla, as it’s a sign of aggression.
You should only bare your heart to people you trust.
Bare can be used as an adjective meaning “exposed” or “unfurnished.”
Example: Bare as an adjective
Ken never wears shoes at home. He prefers having bare feet.
Tammy covered the bare walls of her room with posters.
Bare is also used (as an adjective or verb) in a range of phrases.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pack light! Only bring the bare necessities. | Only what is necessary |
| If you do the bare minimum, your boss will not be impressed. | As little as possible |
| I only know the bare bones of the story. | Most basic form |
| Alicia wanted to bare all to Collin. | Reveal everything |
| The documentary tried to lay bare the events of the Vietnam war. | Reveal or uncover something that was previously unknown |
You can test your understanding of the difference between “bare” and “bear” with the worksheet below. Fill in either “bare” or “bear” in each sentence.
Ryan, E. (2023, March 11). Bear vs. Bare | Definition, Difference & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/commonly-confused-words/bear-vs-bare/