bear down meaning

bear down as a verb

1. exert a force with a heavy weight
   • The snow bore down on the roof

   Synonyms: drag down, bear down on, press down on, weigh down

   Type of: press

2. contract the abdominal muscles during childbirth to ease delivery

   Synonyms: overbear

   Type of: compress

3. to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
   • he saw Jess charging at him with a pitchfork

   Synonyms: charge

   Type of: rush

4. exert full strength
   • The pitcher bore down

   Type of: contend

5. pay special attention to
   • The lectures bore down on the political background

   Type of: stress

6. exert a force or cause a strain upon
   • This tax bears down on the lower middle class

   Type of: charge

How to pronounce bear down

bear down is pronounced /bɛə daʊn/ in British English and /bɛr daʊn/ in American English. It has 2 syllables.