Bear vs. Bare | Definition, Difference & Examples
Bear and bare are pronounced the same but have different meanings.
- Bear can be used as a verb meaning “endure” or “carry” and as a noun to refer to the animal. It’s also used in a range of expressions (e.g., “bear with me” or “bear in mind“).
- Bare can be used as a verb meaning “uncover” or as an adjective meaning “exposed” or “without anything added.”
| 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 as a verb
Bear can be used as a verb to mean “carry” or “support.”
Bear can also be used as a verb to mean “endure.” The adjective “unbearable” (i.e., “insufferable”) relates to this meaning.
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 as a noun
Bear can be used as a noun to refer to the animal.
Bears can run faster than humans.
More uses of bear
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 as a verb
Bare is a verb meaning “uncover.” It can be used literally or figuratively to describe the act of exposing something.
You should only bare your heart to people you trust.
Bare as an adjective
Bare can be used as an adjective meaning “exposed” or “unfurnished.”
Tammy covered the bare walls of her room with posters.
More uses of bare
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 |
Worksheet: Bare vs. Bear
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.
- The table is covered in dishes; I don’t think it can _______ any more.
- Denzel claims he can lift up a car using his _______ hands.
- I’ve never encountered a _______ in the woods, and I hope I never do.
- Please _______ in mind that I have other ongoing projects.
- Bianca is quite shy. I’ve worked with her for years, and we have never had more than the _______ bones of a conversation.
- The table is covered in dishes; I don’t think it can bear any more.
- “Bear” can be used as a verb meaning “carry” or “support.”
- Lara claims she can lift up a car using her bare hands.
- “Bare” can be used as an adjective meaning “uncovered” or “with nothing extra.”
- I’ve never encountered a bear in the woods, and I hope I never do.
- “Bear” can be used as a noun to refer to the animal.
- Please bear in mind that I have other ongoing projects.
- The verb “bear” is used to complete the expression “bear in mind” meaning “take into account.”
- Bianca is quite shy. I’ve worked with her for years, and we have never had more than the bare bones of a conversation.
- The adjective “bare” is used to complete the expression “bare bones” meaning “most basic form.”
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If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.
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Ryan, E. (2023, March 11). Bear vs. Bare | Definition, Difference & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved November 28, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/commonly-confused-words/bear-vs-bare/
