# bearing

/ˈbɛɹɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈeəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bearing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. relevance or connection

noun · CEFR B2

the way that one thing affects or relates to another.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. direction or orientation

noun · CEFR B2

your position or direction, often compared to north or a specific place.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. one's position or situation

noun · CEFR B2

your understanding of where you are or what you should do next.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. manner or posture

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the way a person stands, moves, or behaves.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. mechanical part

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a part in a machine that supports a moving piece and reduces friction.

For teachers: 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.

### 6. carrying weight

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describing a wall or beam that supports the weight of a building.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- His confident bearing made him look like a natural leader.
- The new evidence has a direct bearing on the outcome of the court case.
- After the thick fog rolled in, the hikers lost their bearing and had to rely entirely on their compass to find the trail.

---

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.