Sound-alike words

Bare vs. Bear

Bare is usually an adjective meaning uncovered or plain, as in bare feet or the bare minimum. Bear is a large animal, and also a verb meaning to carry, support or put up with something.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
bare	adjective	not covered by clothing, leaves or anything else; also plain or basic
bare	verb	to uncover something or show it openly
bear	noun	a large, heavy animal with thick fur, such as a black bear or polar bear
bear	verb	to carry, support or hold up; also to put up with something difficult

Bare

adjective: not covered by clothing, leaves or anything else; also plain or basic

The kids ran across the lawn in bare feet.
The trees are bare by the middle of November.

verb: to uncover something or show it openly

The dog bared its teeth at the mail carrier.
In her letter, Priya bared her worries about moving to a new city.

Bear

noun: a large, heavy animal with thick fur, such as a black bear or polar bear

We saw a black bear eating berries near the campground.
The zoo's polar bears love to swim in cold water.

verb: to carry, support or hold up; also to put up with something difficult

The old bridge can no longer bear heavy trucks.
I can't bear the sound of a fork scraping a plate.

How to remember the difference

Bare means nothing covers it, like bare walls. Everything else, the animal and to carry or put up with, is bear: bear with me, bear in mind.

Good to know

The phrases bear with me (be patient) and bear in mind (remember) both use bear. Bare is right in bare your teeth and bare your soul, which mean to uncover. The past forms of the verb bear are bore and borne.

Spot the mistake

Please ~~bare~~ bear with me while I find your order.
Correct: Please bear with me while I find your order.
The room looked empty with its ~~bear~~ bare white walls.
Correct: The room looked empty with its bare white walls.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. Please in mind that the museum closes at five.

2. The cupboard was except for one can of beans.