bear down

verb

bore down; borne down also born down; bearing down; bears down

intransitive verb

: to exert full strength and concentrated attention
Phrases
bear down on
1
2
: to weigh heavily on : burden

Examples of bear down in a Sentence

you need to bear down on that cap a bit to get it to latch tightly
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So when the summer heat bears down, his four window AC units, two dehumidifiers and fans that keep the 2,600-square-foot home cool push his electricity bill to roughly $200 a month. Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025 Molly Sharp, a web designer who lives just a few blocks from the Arco, evacuated last week to a friend’s house across town with her teenage son as the deafening windstorm bore down on the neighborhood. Ken Bensinger, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 This deadly winter storm has impacted more than a dozen states from coast to coast since Saturday, Jan. 4, and is currently bearing down on portions of the East Coast. Abigail Adams, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025 Those impacted by hurricanes Debbie (which made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in August along Florida’s Gulf Coast) and Helene (which bore down on Florida’s Panhandle in September) are also encouraged to apply for help. Lisa J. Huriash, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for bear down 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of bear down was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bear down

Cite this Entry

“Bear down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bear%20down. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

bear down

verb
1
2
: to press or weigh down
3
: to make an all-out effort
4
: to weigh heavily on : burden

Medical Definition

bear down

intransitive verb
: to contract the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm during childbirth
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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