Bare or Bear?

What is the difference between "bare" and "bear"? Here is the quick answer:

"Bare" means exposed (e.g., without clothes).
For everything else, use "bear."

Note: The term "to bear fruit" uses "bear" not "bare." (This term is often mistakenly written as "to bare fruit.") bare or bear?

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More about "Bear" and "Bare"

There is often confusion over the words "bear" and "bare." This confusion arises because, knowing a "bear" is a large mammal (e.g., a brown bear), writers feel uncomfortable using "bear" in its other meanings. In fact, the word "bear" is a very versatile word. Here are some common expressions with "bear":

Bear with me
Bear fruit
Bear in mind
Bear the cost
Bear the pain
Bear the brunt
Bear the burden
Bear the consequences
Bear the thought
Bear the weight
Bear the name

Bear

The word "bear" has many meanings:

To carry (in many senses of the word).

We come bearing gifts for your chief.
Our camels do not mate regularly, but we are expecting Tsu Tsu to bear her first baby next season.
This small tree bears hundreds of apples every year.
Who will bear the responsibility for this vandalism?
My auntie is the tall lady bearing the green hat.
He bears himself with utmost dignity.
You bear a resemblance to your mother.
Does this document bear your signature?
I bear bad news, I'm afraid.

To endure or to tolerate.

Mrs Taylor cannot bear the constant drone of the generator.
I have learnt to bear the cold.
It is very easy to endure the difficulties of one's enemies. It is the successes of one's friends that are hard to bear. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)

To maintain a direction.

Bear left at the next two Y junctions.
This track bears north for the next 10 miles and then bears east as far as the lake.

A large mammal.

Bare

The adjective "bare" means uncovered, naked, exposed (i.e., without cover, clothing or cladding), or empty.

Examples:

Don't go out in bare feet. You'll catch a cold.
Was the protestor totally bare when he ran in the meeting room?
You need to cover those pipes. Bare pipes will freeze this winter.
We haven't done our grocery shopping this week, and I'm afraid the cupboards are bare.
Peter ploughed those fields with his bear hands?

A Video Summary

Here is a short video summarizing the difference between "bear" and "bare."

Bore, Borne, and Born

The past tense of "to bear" is bore. For example:

They bore gifts for the chief.
You bore a remarkable resemblance to your mother when you were younger.

The past passive participle of "to bear" is borne. For example:

The burden borne by the managerial team was simply too heavy.

However, when talking about birth, the alternative participle "born" is used (as an adjective or in a passive sentence). For example:

I was London-born.
She was born in New York.
The child was borne to a witch.

Note: The word before "born" is usually the verb to be (e.g., "is," "was," "were," "been").

Interactive Exercise

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Self Help

"Smashing Grammar" (2019)
Written by the founder of Grammar Monster, "Smashing Grammar" includes a glossary of grammar essentials (from apostrophes to zeugma) and a chapter on easily confused words (from affect/effect to whether/if). Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to real-life, entertaining examples. All entries conclude with a section highlighting why the grammar point is relevant for a writer and top-level bullet points summarizing the entry. [More�]

"Grammar for Grown-ups" (2011)
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