Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense burdens, present participle burdening, past tense, past participle burdened
1. countable noun
If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a burden, you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty, worry, or hard work.
The developing countries bear the burden of an enormous external debt. [+ of]
They don't go around with the burdens of the world on their shoulders the whole time.
Her death will be an impossible burden on Paul.
The financial burden will be more evenly shared.
[Also + on]
Synonyms: trouble, care, worry, trial More Synonyms of burden
2. countable noun
A burden is a heavy load that is difficult to carry.
[formal]
3. verb
If someone burdens you with something that is likely to worry you, for example a problem or a difficult decision, they tell you about it.
We decided not to burden him with the news. [VERB noun + with]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: weigh down, worry, load, tax More Synonyms of burden
4. See also beast of burden
5.
See burden of proof
More Synonyms of burden
burden in British English1
(ˈbɜːdən)
noun
1.
something that is carried; load
2.
something that is exacting, oppressive, or difficult to bear
the burden of responsibility
▶ Related adjective: onerous
3. nautical
a.
the cargo capacity of a ship
b.
the weight of a ship's cargo
verb(transitive)
4. (sometimes foll by up)
to put or impose a burden on; load
5.
to weigh down; oppress
the old woman was burdened with cares
Word origin
Old English byrthen; related to beran to bear1, Old Frisian berthene burden, Old High German burdin
burden in British English2
(ˈbɜːdən)
noun
1.
a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a ballad or similar song; chorus or refrain
2.
the principal or recurrent theme of a speech, book, etc
3. another word for bourdon
Word origin
C16: from Old French bourdon bass horn, droning sound, of imitative origin
burden in American English1
(ˈbɜrdən)
noun
1.
anything that is carried; load
2.
anything one has to bear or put up with; heavy load, as of work, duty, responsibility, or sorrow
3.
the carrying of loads
a beast of burden
4.
the carrying capacity of a ship
verb transitive
5.
to put a burden on; load; weigh down; oppress
Word origin
ME birthen < OE byrthen, akin to ON byrthr, a load: for IE base see bear1
burden in American English2
(ˈbɜrdən)
noun
1. Archaic
a bass accompaniment in music
2.
a chorus or refrain of a song
3.
the drone of a bagpipe
4.
a repeated, central idea; theme
the burden of a speech
Word origin
ME burdoun, bass in music, refrain < OFr bourdon, a humming, buzzing < ML burdo, wind instrument, bumblebee; of echoic orig.
COBUILD Collocations
burden
additional burden
cost burden
extra burden
financial burden
terrible burden
Examples of 'burden' in a sentence
burden
The weight of the burden of such annihilation would be enough to give a man a hernia.
The Sun (2016)
None of our competitors bears this burden.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The researchers were shocked by how strongly this applied to the burden a minority put on taxpayers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But throughout history fighting men have shouldered this impossible burden.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It amounts to a declaration that they would rather end their lives than become a financial burden to their loved ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Tram horses lasted only four, so heavy was their burden.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Still, top strikers are happy to carry that burden and he does it very well.
The Sun (2016)
There is a financial burden for me but it's less than it could be.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The announcement lifts a heavy burden from him and ends months of speculation.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Do we really want to load this burden on the rising generation?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That flat has to bear an enormous symbolic burden.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Win also is clear that she will not become a burden to her family.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They impose burdens on activities when done in exchange for money that they otherwise leave alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They are not likely to burden supervisors with the task of coaching and counseling employees.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
The burden and responsibility is too much for you to carry.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We burden them with impossible hopes and then destroy them when hope is inevitably unfulfilled.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They mean holding sorrow and carrying burdens together.
Christianity Today (2000)
The mental burden is weighing him down more than the technical flaw.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Germany has borne a heavy burden for the debt crisis of the eurozone.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Parents can load a heavy burden of expectation and anxiety over future employment.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But it would be unfair to load another tax burden on to the younger working population.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Gas and electricity are one of the biggest financial burdens for older people.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But that takes the pressure off us and allows us to play without the burden of enormous expectations.
The Sun (2012)
At the same time he or she bears the further burden of providing physical care for the one who is ill.
Pearson, Althea Growing Through Loss and Grief (1994)
This is a king visibly burdened by the weight of his crown, who evokes real pathos.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The real challenge is refusing to allow others to blame you or, worse, expect you to shoulder the burden for problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
burden
British English: burden /ˈbɜːdn/ NOUN
Something that is a burden causes you a lot of worry or hard work.
I don't want to be a burden to you.
American English: burden
Arabic: عِبْء
Brazilian Portuguese: carga
Chinese: 负担
Croatian: teret
Czech: břemeno starost
Danish: byrde
Dutch: last
European Spanish: carga responsabilidad
Finnish: taakka
French: fardeau
German: Last Seelisch
Greek: φορτίο
Italian: fardello
Japanese: 荷物
Korean: 짐
Norwegian: byrde
Polish: ciężar
European Portuguese: carga
Romanian: povară
Russian: обуза
Latin American Spanish: carga agobio
Swedish: börda
Thai: ภาระ
Turkish: yük
Ukrainian: тягар
Vietnamese: gánh nặng
British English: burden VERB
If someone burdens you with something that is likely to worry you, for example a problem or a difficult decision, they tell you about it.
We decided not to burden him with the news.
American English: burden
Brazilian Portuguese: sobrecarregar
Chinese: 使烦恼
European Spanish: cargar
French: accabler
German: belasten
Italian: affliggere
Japanese: 苦しめる
Korean: 짐을 지우다
European Portuguese: sobrecarregar
Latin American Spanish: cargar
All related terms of 'burden'
cost burden
If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a burden , you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty , worry , or hard work.
debt burden
A debt burden is a large amount of money that one country or organization owes to another and which they find very difficult to repay .
tax burden
the amount of tax paid by a person, company, or country in a specified period considered as a proportion of total income in that period.
extra burden
If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a burden , you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty , worry , or hard work.
terrible burden
If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a burden , you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty , worry , or hard work.
additional burden
If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a burden , you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty , worry , or hard work.
financial burden
If you describe a problem or a responsibility as a burden , you mean that it causes someone a lot of difficulty , worry , or hard work.
beast of burden
A beast of burden is an animal such as an ox or a donkey that is used for carrying or pulling things.
burden of proof
The burden of proof is the task of proving that you are correct, for example when you have accused someone of a crime.
White man's burden
the supposed duty of White people to bring education and Western culture to the inhabitants of their colonies
lighten sb's burden
If someone or something lightens your burden or your load , they make a bad or difficult situation better for you.
onus probandi
the obligation , in criminal cases resting initially on the prosecution , to provide evidence that will convince the court or jury of the truth of one's contention
Chinese translation of 'burden'
burden
(ˈbəːdn)
n(c)
(= responsibility, worry) 负(負)担(擔) (fùdān)
(frm, = load) 负(負)荷 (fùhè)
vt
to burden sb with[problem, news]使某人负(負)担(擔)某事 (shǐ mǒurén fùdān mǒushì)
to be a burden on sb成为(為)某人的累赘(贅) (chéngwéi mǒurén de léizhuì)
1 (noun)
Definition
something that is difficult to bear
Having more responsibility at work felt like a burden to him.
Synonyms
trouble
You've caused a lot of trouble.
care
He never seemed to have a care in the world.
worry
His last years were overshadowed by financial worry.
trial
the trials of adolescence
weight
responsibility
The 600 properties were his responsibility.
stress
Katy could not think clearly when under stress.
strain
The prison service is already under considerable strain.
anxiety
His voice was full of anxiety.
sorrow
the joys and sorrows of family life
grievance
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
onus
The onus was on the Italians to find a solution.
albatross
millstone
The contract proved to be a millstone around his neck.
encumbrance
2 (noun)
Definition
something that is carried
She heaved her burden into the back.
Synonyms
load
High blood pressure imposes an extra load on the heart.
weight
He heaved a sigh of relief. `That's a great weight off my mind.'
pack
I hid the money in my pack.
bundle
cargo
freight
bale
consignment
encumbrance
She considered the past an irrelevant encumbrance.
charge
3 (noun)
Synonyms
tonnage
lading
cargo
The boat calls at the main port to load its cargo of bananas.
freight
26 tonnes of freight
(verb)
Definition
to weigh down
We decided not to burden him with the news.
Synonyms
weigh down
worry
load
tax
Overcrowding has taxed the city's ability to deal with waste.
strain
bother
overwhelm
handicap
Greater levels of stress may seriously handicap some students.
oppress
The atmosphere in the room oppressed her.
inconvenience
overload
an effective method that will not overload staff with more paperwork
saddle with
encumber
fishermen encumbered with bulky clothing and boots
trammel
incommode
related words
related adjectiveonerous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affliction
Definition
something that causes physical or mental suffering
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.