-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
bear down
verb
bore down; borne down also born down; bearing down; bears down
: to exert full strength and concentrated attention
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
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
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.
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
Articles Related to bear down
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
Medical Definition
bear down
intransitive verb
: to contract the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm during childbirth
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share