bear on
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to be connected to or have an effect on a situation.
phrasal verb. to be relevant to or have a direct influence on a matter under consideration; often used in formal or legal contexts.
These new facts bear on the case.
The judge ruled that the witness's personal history did not bear on the current trial.
The committee must determine how these international trade regulations bear on the domestic manufacturing sector before drafting the final report.
usually used in the present tense and followed by a noun representing a topic or decision.
this is a formal alternative to 'relate to' or 'affect'; it is frequently found in academic writing and formal debates.
This evidence bears to the problem.This evidence bears on the problem.the verb 'bear' requires the preposition 'on' to mean relevance; 'to' is incorrect in this context.
Last updated April 24, 2026