# bare

/ˈbɛɹ/ (US) · /bˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bare
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. not covered

adjective · CEFR B2

not covered by clothes or anything else.

For teachers: lacking a natural, customary, or appropriate covering; naked or exposed.

- He walked across the cold floor with bare feet.
- The hikers were warned that leaving bare skin exposed to the mountain sun would result in severe burns within minutes.

### 2. empty or plain

adjective · CEFR B2

empty or without any decoration or furniture.

For teachers: devoid of furniture, equipment, or decoration; containing only the most basic requirements.

- The walls of the new apartment were completely bare.
- The minimalist design left the room feeling somewhat bare, with only a single wooden chair breaking the expanse of the white floor.

### 3. only just enough

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

the smallest amount that is possible or necessary.

For teachers: amounting to no more than what is specified or absolutely necessary.

- He survived on the bare minimum of food for three days.
- The report provided only the bare facts of the incident, omitting the emotional context that the witnesses had described.

### 4. a lot of

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · British English

a lot of something.

For teachers: functioning as a quantifier meaning many or much; characteristic of Multicultural London English.

- There were bare people at the party last night.
- He claimed he had bare money in his account, though his friends were skeptical of his sudden wealth.

Teaching tip: This usage is specific to young speakers in urban UK areas; it sounds out of place when used by older learners or in formal writing.

### 5. to reveal

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to uncover something so that it can be seen.

For teachers: to uncover or reveal something to view; often used of teeth or secrets.

- The dog bared its teeth and started to growl.
- In a moment of rare honesty, the politician bared his soul to the interviewer, admitting his past failures.

### 6. very

adverb · CEFR C1 · Slang · British English

very or really.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to mean 'very' or 'extremely'.

- That movie was bare scary.
- The exam was bare difficult, and most of the students struggled to finish the final section on time.

### 7. exposed part of a tile

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the part of a roof tile that you can see.

For teachers: the portion of a roofing slate, shingle, or tile that is exposed to the weather.

- The builder measured the bare of the slate to ensure it was waterproof.
- Properly calculating the bare is essential for ensuring that the roof remains watertight during heavy rainstorms.

## Examples

- The dog will bare its teeth if it feels threatened.
- The winter storm stripped the trees of their leaves and began to bare the rocky ground beneath.
- The witness was hesitant to bare her soul in front of the jury, fearing that her private grief would be misunderstood by the public.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.