Bear Definition Bear Definition 1

Bear (noun) — a well-known giant animal with brown fluffy fur that seems cute but actually is a mammal with a muscular body and large claws. Bears typically live in the US, Europe, and Asia, though they are not easy to meet. 

Part of speech:
Noun (countable)
Phonetic transcription (IPA):
/beər/
CEFR level:
A1
Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Bear”?

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Tips for bear pronunciation: 

this word is similar to “air” but with a strong b at the beginning and almost invisible r at the end.

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Examples: How to Use “Bear” in a Sentence?

The “bear” word can be used in daily conversations when the topic is suitable for it. Here, you can see the real-world sentences:

My dad works out a lot. He is large like a bear.
We are hikers with a dream to meet a bear someday.
My friend is a photographer. She took a picture of a polar bear!
Our daughter adores books about bears. She is three now.
I have never seen a black bear in my life.

What Are Synonyms for the Word “Bear”?

You need to learn alternative expressions that will help you to define “bear” better and make your text more interesting.

Related nouns: mammal grizzly panda

Synonyms (contextual): No, it is a specific noun

Common collocations: black bear meet a bear look for a bear

“Bear” Word Formation Cases

As you have learned how to spell “bear”, it is time to define how it combines with other parts of speech, as you will use them in communication a lot.

With adjectives: young bear cuddly bear playful bear

With verbs: a bear climbs a bear catches a bear moves

With nouns (noun + noun): sun bear teddy bear bear family

Interesting Idioms and Phrases with “Bear”

Some special sayings with the word “bear” make your English sound more fancy. Here are some of them that native speakers often use in chats, real conversations, texts, and more.

  • Bear hug — big and tight hug with lots of love and affection.

    This day was so tiring that I needed a bear hug from my husband.
Bear Idioma Bear Idioma 1
  • Hungry as a bear — strong desire to eat something, close to starving.

    I am hungry as a bear after school.
  • Bear garden — too much chaos in one place, which is disturbing.

    Once you have a child, your home becomes a bear garden.

Test Your Knowledge of Bear Meaning — Quiz Time!

If you want to practice this word and define bear in different exercises, we have prepared some of them for you. 

Type 1: True/false statements:
Choose the correct answer:
1
There are many bear toys in the world.
2
Bears can hunt well.
3
There is only one kind of bear worldwide.
Type 2: Right word order:
Put these sentences in the right order:
1
downhills
A
runs
bear
2
standing!
is
bear
This
3
eat
Bears
vegetables
Type 3: Choose the correct option
Select the most fitting variant:
1
My dad saw a grizzly one! “Grizzly” is a related noun for the word:
2
She doesn’t want to bear with this paperwork. What does it mean “to bear with”?
3
There are so many teddy bears in the store. What are “teddy bears?”

Enjoy personalized learning!

“Bear” Word in Other Languages

Do you want to learn more about this term? Here’s how to say “bear” in three top-spoken tongues in Europe.

Language Word for “Bear”
Flag Spanish Spanish   Oso
Flag French French   L'ours
Flag German German   Tragen

Did You Know These Fun Facts About “Boat”?

The description of “bear” is not hard to understand, but to remember it well, you may need some interesting facts that describe this animal in more detail.

  • The Malaysian sun bear is proven to be the smallest one in the world among this animal type.

    The Guinness World Records states that an adult bear is up to 1.5 meters and weighs 65 kg at maximum.
  • Teddy bears are the toys that are associated with comfort, cuddles, and love.

    There are many types of such toys, of all sizes and colors, popular among babies and adults because they are perfect for cuddling and providing emotional support.
  • There are eight types of bears worldwide.

    Here are their names: North American black bear, brown bear, polar bear, Asiatic black bear, Andean bear, panda bear, sun bear, and sloth bear.

Unusual Quotes Featuring Bear

This word is not only featured in books but also in songs from popular idols, so here, you can check how they use the word “bear” and in what contexts.

“A man screaming is not a dancing bear. Life is not a spectacle.”

Aime Cesaire

Explanation: We like to think about this quote as a need to show your empathy to other people. It is not a fancy performance when someone feels bad, and we have to support them, not make fun.

“Oh, baby let me be, your lovin’ teddy bear”

— Elvis Presley – (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

Explanation: This famous song tells about a man’s desire to be a teddy bear for his lover. You already know from this article that teddy bears are perfect for cuddles.

“Ice Bear needs latte.”

— Ice Bear, “We Bare Bears”

Explanation: It sounds weird that a bear needs some coffee, but in this fun cartoon, you can see bears doing other weird things, like talking.