bear the burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bear the burden" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the act of taking on a difficult challenge or responsibility. For example, "The team leader decided to bear the burden of organizing the event alone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

City taxpayers inevitably bear the burden.

The New York Times

And who should bear the burden?

The New York Times

But who should bear the burden?

The New York Times

I struggled to bear the burden of national expectation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Butler describes how her mother struggled to bear the burden.

The New York Times - Books

Neither can bear the burden of inaction any longer.

The New York Times

It shouldn't bear the burden of another country's hatred.

The New York Times

The poor will still bear the burden of disease.

The New York Times

States bear the duty to bear the burden for creating conditions favourable to a people's development.

The Guardian

She has to bear the burden of politics and the nasty business of activism.

The Guardian - Film

Still, it is mainly doctors who bear the burden making the initial investment.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the distribution of effort or resources in a project, use "bear the burden" to clearly indicate who is responsible for specific tasks or challenges. For example: "The sales team will bear the burden of acquiring new clients this quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "bear the burden" when describing situations where someone is merely affected by a difficulty, rather than actively managing it. It is more accurate to say that someone "experiences the effects" or "faces the consequences" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear the burden" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the act of enduring or carrying a difficult responsibility. It often suggests a sense of obligation or necessity. The usage examples provided by Ludwig confirm this meaning, illustrating how various entities, from individuals to entire communities, can "bear the burden" of challenges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bear the burden" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate taking on a difficult responsibility or enduring hardship. As shown by Ludwig, it frequently appears in news and media, reflecting its relevance in discussing societal challenges, and also in scientific and formal contexts. While phrases like "shoulder the responsibility" or "carry the load" offer similar meanings, "bear the burden" distinctly emphasizes the weight and endurance required. Using this phrase effectively involves accurately attributing responsibility and acknowledging the difficulties involved in fulfilling that role.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Carry the burden

Emphasizes the ongoing effort and perseverance required.

Shoulder the responsibility

Highlights the weight and importance of the duty.

Accept the burden

Focuses on the act of willingly taking on responsibility.

Assume the burden

Implies taking on a responsibility that may not have been initially assigned.

Take on the responsibility

Focuses on the initiation of accepting a duty.

Endure the hardship

Emphasizes the suffering and difficulty involved.

Withstand the pressure

Highlights the resistance against external forces while fulfilling a duty.

Sustain the hardship

Emphasizes the ability to maintain effort despite difficulties.

Handle the difficulty

Focuses on managing and overcoming the challenges.

Support the obligation

Highlights the act of upholding and maintaining a commitment.

FAQs

How can I use "bear the burden" in a sentence?

You can use "bear the burden" to describe someone or something that is responsible for handling a difficult task or situation. For example, "The city taxpayers inevitably "bear the burden" of increased public service costs."

What can I say instead of "bear the burden"?

You can use alternatives like "shoulder the responsibility", "carry the load", or "take on the responsibility" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "bear the burden" or "bare the burden"?

"Bear the burden" is correct. "Bear" means to carry or support, while "bare" means to uncover or reveal. Therefore, "bear the burden" implies carrying a responsibility, while "bare the burden" doesn't make sense in most contexts.

What's the difference between "bear the burden" and "share the burden"?

"Bear the burden" implies taking on the responsibility alone, whereas "share the burden" suggests distributing the responsibility among multiple parties. The choice depends on whether the task is handled individually or collectively.