Definitions
01relevance or connection
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the way that one thing affects or relates to another.
n. the relevance, relationship, or influence of one thing upon another; often used with the preposition 'on'.
“The new evidence had a direct bearing on the outcome of the trial.”
“The judge ruled that the witness's personal history had no direct bearing on the legal facts of the case at hand.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the phrase 'have a bearing on'.
Antonyms
02direction or orientation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. your position or direction, often compared to north or a specific place.
n. the horizontal angle between the direction of an object and a reference point, such as true north.
“The hiker checked his compass to get a bearing before entering the thick forest.”
“The navigator took a fresh bearing on the lighthouse to ensure the ship remained clear of the submerged reef.”
Synonyms
03one's position or situation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun
n. your understanding of where you are or what you should do next.
n. one's sense of orientation or relative position, whether in a physical or metaphorical context.
“After the confusing meeting, it took me a moment to get my bearings.”
“New employees often spend their first week simply trying to find their bearings within the company's complex hierarchy.”
Usage
Almost always used in the plural form 'bearings' in this sense.
Synonyms
04manner or posture
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the way a person stands, moves, or behaves.
n. a person's way of standing or moving; their outward demeanour or manner.
“The soldier's upright bearing made him stand out in the crowd.”
“Despite the intense pressure of the press conference, the prime minister maintained a calm and professional bearing.”
05mechanical part
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical
n. a part in a machine that supports a moving piece and reduces friction.
n. a machine element that constrains relative motion to only the desired motion and reduces friction between moving parts.
“The bicycle wheel stopped spinning smoothly because the bearings were worn out.”
“The engineer specified high-grade steel bearings to ensure the turbine could operate at high speeds without overheating.”
Synonyms
06carrying weight
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Technical
adj. describing a wall or beam that supports the weight of a building.
adj. supporting or carrying a physical load or weight.
“You cannot remove that wall because it is a load-bearing structure.”
“The architect reinforced the central bearing columns to account for the additional weight of the new roof garden.”
Usage
Frequently used in the compound 'load-bearing'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “bearing” in context.
Adjective
01. important bearing
“The new evidence will have an important bearing on the outcome of the trial.”
adj + noun
02. bearing the brunt
Real-World Examples
“The UK Home Office says its work with countries like Germany "is bearing fruit".” “Wearing pink and some dressed in T-shirts bearing the face of the five-year-old girl, the crowd gathered under grey skies in the red centre capital on Saturday.” Etymology
From Middle English beringe, berynge, berende, berande, berand, from Old English berende (“bearing; fruitful”) (also as synonym Old English bǣrende), from Proto-Germanic berandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic beraną (“to bear; carry”), equivalent to bear + -ing.
From Middle English bering, beringe, berynge, equivalent to bear + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0