come to bear

USAGE SUMMARY

"come to bear" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to become relevant or applicable. For example, "The regulations that were passed came to bear when the factory was inspected by the county government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The tools of computational complexity theory should come to bear on these important questions.

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

How will these votes come to bear on future elections?

The Washington Post

How did our omnipresent libel laws come to bear?

The Guardian

"And the split would come to bear as part of the ongoing termination dispute," he wrote.

The New York Times

In 2014, political pressure may also come to bear in very personal ways.

The New York Times

How much should coincidence come to bear when designing a plot?

Columbia University

The Randian philosophy has come to bear on this situation, you would admit.

The Washington Post

We've come to bear witness to ourselves and our shared history.

The Guardian - Music

And how did Auschwitz, previously the Polish town Oswiecim, come to bear that infamous name?

The Guardian - Opinion

How does this come to bear on the link between sleep disturbances and neurodegeneration?

The Guardian

No political influence will come to bear on the execution of that remit.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "come to bear", ensure the subject and context clearly indicate what is exerting the influence and on what it is acting. This provides clarity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "come to bear" in active constructions where a direct agent is clearly performing an action. The phrase typically describes effects that arise or emerge, not actions someone deliberately takes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come to bear" functions as a verb phrase that indicates the initiation of an influence, effect, or pressure. As Ludwig AI indicates, this idiom often describes the process by which abstract forces start impacting a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come to bear" is a correct and usable idiomatic verb phrase that signifies something starting to have an influence or effect. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness for describing how pressures or influences become relevant. It is commonly used across news, science, and formal business contexts, as evidenced by numerous examples. While versatile, it is best suited for describing abstract forces and should be used with consideration to maintain clarity in your writing. Alternatives include "become relevant" or "take effect" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become relevant

Focuses on the aspect of relevance becoming present.

become applicable

Highlights the aspect of being suitable or able to be applied.

take effect

Implies a more formal or official start of influence.

exert influence

Emphasizes the active application of influence.

start to matter

Highlights the growing importance or significance.

have an impact

Focuses on the effect or result produced.

carry weight

Suggests a degree of importance or authority.

become a factor

Points out the inclusion as an element in a situation.

play a role

Suggests participation or involvement in a process.

start to apply

Implies a beginning of implementation or relevance.

FAQs

How can I use "come to bear" in a sentence?

Use "come to bear" to describe when a particular influence or effect becomes relevant or noticeable in a situation. For instance, "Political pressure began to "come to bear" on the negotiations."

What does "come to bear" mean?

"Come to bear" means to start having an influence or effect; to become relevant or applicable in a particular situation.

What are some alternatives to "come to bear"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "become relevant", "take effect", or "exert influence".

Is it appropriate to use "come to bear" in formal writing?

Yes, "come to bear" is suitable for formal writing. It is often found in news articles, academic papers, and business reports where a sophisticated tone is required.