bearing
noun
bear·ing ˈber-iŋ 
1
: the manner in which one behaves or comports oneself : the manner in which one bears (see bear entry 2 sense 2f) oneself
a man of dignified bearing
… a confident and cheerful bearing.
Sheridan LeFanu
Sheridan LeFanu2
a
: the act, power, or time of bringing forth offspring or fruit
a woman past bearing
b
: a product of bearing : crop
three bearings in a year
3
a
: an object, surface, or point that supports
b
: a machine part in which another part (such as a journal or pin) turns or slides
4
heraldry : a figure borne on a heraldic field (see field entry 1 sense 3c)
The lion is a common bearing.
5
: pressure, thrust
6
a
: the situation or horizontal direction of one point with respect to another or to the compass
on a northerly bearing
b
: a determination of position
take a bearing
c
bearings plural : comprehension of one's position, environment, or situation
The ship lost its bearings in the fog.
helping new employees get their bearings
d
: relation, connection —often used with on
facts that have a direct bearing on the questionThey assured us that their personal feelings had no bearing on their decision.
also : purport
the bearing of that remark
7
: the part of a structural member that rests on its supports
a beam with 4 inches of bearing upon the wall
Synonyms
- applicability
- connection
- materiality
- pertinence
- relevance
- relevancy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a man of military bearing these new facts have some bearing on the case
Recent Examples on the Web With the help of community members and visitors, the installation grew ever larger, adding a blizzard of orange fabric strips, huge cards inscribed with dozens of signatures and thousands of message-bearing luggage tags. John Keilman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 Tesla’s solution adds a strengthening function for the adhesive, making the whole battery load-bearing. Mark Andrews, WIRED, 29 Aug. 2022 Their fabrications, whether in lace or thick wools, were an unexpected switch-up from the vampy, skin-bearing designs that many pop stars wear to the VMAs. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2022 In her boldness and bearing, Williams has always reminded me of my undaunted nieces and cousins and my late paternal grandmother, Peggy Mae Streeter, a powerful Black woman born one generation from slavery. Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2022 The protagonists’ personal bearing is itself a matter of style; or, rather, the posse’s style is a matter of identity, of self-assertion, of endurance. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2022 The mission -- which will kick off the Artemis program, with the aim of eventually returning humans to the moon -- carries on a tradition that began in the 1960s of NASA spacecraft bearing mementos. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Aug. 2022 What bearing did his Cleveland-area roots have on him later in life? John Benson, cleveland, 15 Aug. 2022 Posted on a fence near where her brother died were balloons, flowers, photos and a blackboard bearing chalked messages. oregonlive, 13 Aug. 2022 See More
John Keilman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 Tesla’s solution adds a strengthening function for the adhesive, making the whole battery load-bearing. Mark Andrews, WIRED, 29 Aug. 2022 Their fabrications, whether in lace or thick wools, were an unexpected switch-up from the vampy, skin-bearing designs that many pop stars wear to the VMAs. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2022 In her boldness and bearing, Williams has always reminded me of my undaunted nieces and cousins and my late paternal grandmother, Peggy Mae Streeter, a powerful Black woman born one generation from slavery. Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2022 The protagonists’ personal bearing is itself a matter of style; or, rather, the posse’s style is a matter of identity, of self-assertion, of endurance. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2022 The mission -- which will kick off the Artemis program, with the aim of eventually returning humans to the moon -- carries on a tradition that began in the 1960s of NASA spacecraft bearing mementos. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Aug. 2022 What bearing did his Cleveland-area roots have on him later in life? John Benson, cleveland, 15 Aug. 2022 Posted on a fence near where her brother died were balloons, flowers, photos and a blackboard bearing chalked messages. oregonlive, 13 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing bearing
Kids Definition
bearing
noun
bear·ing
ˈber-ing
1
: the manner in which a person carries or conducts himself or herself
a man of kingly bearing
2
: a part of a machine in which another part turns
3
: the position or direction of one point with respect to another or to the compass
4
: a determination of position
take a bearing
5
bearings plural : understanding of position or situation
I lost my bearings.
6
: a relation or connection
Personal feelings had no bearing on our decision.
Medical Definition
bearing
noun
bear·ing
: an object, surface, or point that supports
bearing 1 of 3
noun
1
as in relevance
the fact or state of being pertinent these new facts have some bearing on the case Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- relevance
- relevancy
- connection
- significance
- applicability
- pertinence
- importance
- suitability
- fitness
- materiality
- appropriateness
- aptness
- suitableness
- felicitousness
- appositeness
- usefulness
- seemliness
- rightness
- fittingness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- irrelevance
- inapplicability
- irrelevancy
- unfitness
- unsuitability
- extraneousness
- infelicity
- insignificance
- inappropriateness
- inaptness
- inappositeness
- uselessness
- meaninglessness
- pointlessness
2
as in relationship
the fact or state of having something in common I don't see any bearing between the quality of this bottle of wine and its rather exorbitant price Synonyms & Similar Words
- relationship
- association
- kinship
- relation
- correlation
- connection
- linkage
- affinity
- resemblance
- similarity
- link
- relevance
- liaison
- tie
- bond
- affiliation
- union
- interrelation
- pertinence
- likeness
- accordance
- correspondence
- alliance
- conformity
- materiality
- identicalness
- alikeness
- sameness
- agreement
- congruity
- community
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- variance
- variability
- incongruence
- incongruity
- incompatibility
- incongruousness
3
as in behavior
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself always retained his military bearing, even after he entered politics Synonyms & Similar Words
- behavior
- demeanor
- actions
- presence
- address
- attitude
- conduct
- characteristic
- manners
- deportment
- comportment
- look
- trait
- pose
- form
- posture
- gest
- style
- carriage
- air
- etiquette
- courtesy
- geste
- affectation
- form
- aspect
- habit
- practice
- attribute
- politeness
- pattern
- peculiarity
- proprieties
- poise
- custom
- distinctiveness
- rules
- decorum
- civility
- wont
- mores
- mien
- uniqueness
- protocol
- mark
- singularity
- mode
- formality
- amenity
- fashion
- trick
- convention
- practise
- strangeness
- oddity
- weirdness
- habitude
- p's and q's
bearing
2 of 3adjective
as in producing
Synonyms & Similar Words
- producing
- yielding
- fertile
- generative
- prolific
- fecund
- abundant
- rich
- fruitful
- bountiful
- copious
- bursting
- abounding
- fructuous
- productive
- luxuriant
- teeming
- flourishing
- swarming
- blooming
- generous
- plentiful
- liberal
- original
- fat
- cornucopian
- lush
- thriving
- plenitudinous
- plenteous
- creative
- inventive
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dead
- sterile
- barren
- spare
- scant
- infertile
- unproductive
- unfruitful
- scanty
- meager
- sparse
- skimpy
- unfertile
- meagre
- skimp
bearing
3 of 3verb
1
as in having
to bring forth from the womb luckily, she turned out to be able to bear children after all Synonyms & Similar Words
- having
- producing
- delivering
- birthing
- dropping
- generating
- mothering
- getting
- propagating
- reproducing
- breeding
- spawning
- laboring
- giving birth to
- multiplying
- begetting
- siring
- fathering
- littering
- pupping
- kittening
- kindling
- kidding
- calving
- whelping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- losing
- aborting
- miscarrying
2
as in standing
to put up with (something painful or difficult) I can't bear the thought of losing another loved one Synonyms & Similar Words
- standing
- enduring
- handling
- accepting
- tolerating
- taking
- sustaining
- supporting
- absorbing
- wearing
- abiding
- meeting
- stomaching
- countenancing
- swallowing
- brooking
- sticking out
- living with
- standing for
- pocketing
- biding
- sweating out
- going
- suffering
- permitting
- hacking
- allowing
- toughing it out
- respecting
- lumping (it)
- capitulating
- acquiescing
- reconciling (to)
- yielding (to)
- submitting (to)
- assenting (to)
- consenting (to)
- agreeing (with or to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejecting
- opposing
- refusing
- dismissing
- declining
- fighting
- repudiating
- resisting
- avoiding
- missing
- combating
- turning down
- contesting
- combatting
- escaping
- evading
- spurning
- bypassing
- dodging
- eluding
- circumventing
- refraining (from)
- abstaining (from)
- forbearing
3
as in relating
to have a relation or connection I just found another fact that bears on this issue Synonyms & Similar Words
- relating
- pertaining
- applying
- referring
- affecting
- appertaining
- concerning
- involving
- interesting
- touching
- connecting
- coupling
- linking
- having to do with
- associating
- interrelating
- treating
- tying in
- tieing in
- dealing (with)
4
as in heading
to go on a specified course or in a certain direction the road bears left after the second traffic light Synonyms & Similar Words
- heading
- turning
- pointing
- making
- putting
- facing
- bending
- steering
- striking
- veering
- orienting
- directing
- backing
- aiming
- reversing
- setting out
- tacking
- cutting
- inclining
- setting off
- putting out
- taking off
- turning back
- beelining
- wheeling
- yawing
- about-facing
- lighting out
- coming round
- swerving
- coming about
- putting about
5
as in carrying
to hold up or serve as a foundation for the wooden bridge will only bear one truck at a time Synonyms & Similar Words
- carrying
- sustaining
- supporting
- bolstering
- upholding
- staying
- underpinning
- bracing
- buttressing
- undergirding
- underlying
- steadying
- trussing
- propping (up)
- shoring (up)
6
as in holding
to keep in one's mind or heart I'm not one to bear grudges Synonyms & Similar Words
- having
- holding
- retaining
- harboring
- cherishing
- carrying
- keeping
- cultivating
- maintaining
- entertaining
- sustaining
- remembering
- preserving
- nursing
- supporting
- hugging
- fostering
- nurturing
- holding on to
- hanging on to
- treasuring
- cleaving (to)
- sticking (to)
- clinging (to)
- fixating (on or upon)
- brooding (about or over)
- obsessing (about or over)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoring
- disregarding
- dropping
- denying
- forgetting
- neglecting
- overlooking
- declining
- refusing
- rejecting
- repudiating
- abandoning
- scorning
- disdaining
- discarding
- renouncing
- forsaking
- throwing out
- deserting
- abjuring
- expunging
- parting (with)
- erasing
- quitting
- giving up
7
as in behaving
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way she bore herself well in her first public speaking event Synonyms & Similar Words
- carrying
- behaving
- restraining
- containing
- acquitting
- handling
- conducting
- composing
- demeaning
- collecting
- checking
- comporting
- controlling
- constraining
- curbing
- deporting
- quieting
- inhibiting
- modulating
- repressing
- tempering
- playing
- moderating
- quitting
- acting
- impersonating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misconducting
- misbehaving
- carrying on
- acting up
- cutting up
8
as in hauling
to support and take from one place to another the rescue team came bearing much-needed food and supplies Synonyms & Similar Words
- carrying
- hauling
- transporting
- bringing
- conveying
- ferrying
- sending
- packing
- toting
- lugging
- delivering
- carting
- transferring
- shipping
- taking
- transmitting
- shifting
- removing
- moving
- forwarding
- fetching
- handing over
9
as in shouldering
to take to or upon oneself I bear some responsibility for the mishap Synonyms & Similar Words
- shouldering
- accepting
- assuming
- undertaking
- embracing
- adopting
- taking over
- backing
- endorsing
- upholding
- supporting
- championing
- advocating
- indorsing
- espousing
- assenting
- standing by
- acquiescing
- taking up
- acceding
- consenting
- agreeing
- reaccepting
- reassuming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- withdrawing
- disclaiming
- repudiating
- renouncing
- disavowing
- rejecting
- refusing
- retracting
- disowning
- declining
- avoiding
- abjuring
- taking back
- recanting
- turning down
- spurning
- relinquishing
- bypassing
- abandoning
- forsaking
- forbearing
- surrendering
- abstaining (from)
- detouring
- refraining (from)
- spurning
- unsaying
- backing down
- backing off
- abnegating
- backtracking
- giving up
10
as in packing
to wear or have on one's person the right to bear arms Synonyms & Similar Words
- carrying
- packing
- sporting
- displaying
- exhibiting
- flaunting
- showing
- parading
- showing off
11
as in leading
to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction the path will bear north after that marked tree Synonyms & Similar Words
- leading
- extending
- running
- going
- lying
- heading
- passing
- crossing
- cutting
- following
- spanning
- traversing
- coursing
12
as in requiring
to have as a requirement the violence in that country bears watching if the world wants to avoid a serious international conflict Synonyms & Similar Words
- requiring
- needing
- taking
- wanting
- involving
- warranting
- claiming
- necessitating
- demanding
- challenging
- calling for
- entailing
- asking
- lacking
- begging
- insisting
- stipulating
- pressing
- exacting
- commanding
- enjoining
- clamoring (for)
- questing
- hurting (for)
- crying (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- having
- holding
- possessing
- owning
13
as in containing
to have within gold-bearing ore Synonyms & Similar Words
- containing
- holding
- boasting
- housing
- fitting
- enclosing
- encompassing
- taking
- casing
- encasing
- sheltering
- harboring
- accommodating
- lodging
- inclosing
14
as in being
to occupy a place or location a hot, humid air mass is now bearing just south of the Gulf Coast Synonyms & Similar Words
- being
- standing
- lying
- sitting
- residing
- remaining
- awaiting
- resting
- waiting
- staying
- dwelling
- overlooking
- posting
- commanding
- hanging around
- tarrying
- sticking around
- stationing
15
as in yielding
to produce as revenue an interest-bearing savings account Synonyms & Similar Words
- yielding
- giving
- paying
- providing
- returning
- supplying
- furnishing
- affording
- netting
- bringing in
- paying off
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of bearing are carriage, demeanor, deportment, manner, and mien. While all these words mean "the outward manifestation of personality or attitude," bearing is the most general of these words but now usually implies characteristic posture.
a woman of regal bearing
The meanings of carriage and bearing largely overlap; however, carriage applies chiefly to habitual posture in standing or walking.
the kind of carriage learned at boarding school
The synonyms demeanor and bearing are sometimes interchangeable, but demeanor suggests one's attitude toward others as expressed in outward behavior.
the haughty demeanor of the headwaiter
While in some cases nearly identical to bearing, deportment suggests actions or behavior as formed by breeding or training.
your deportment was atrocious
While the synonyms manner and bearing are close in meaning, manner implies characteristic or customary way of moving and gesturing and addressing others.
the imperious manner of a man used to giving orders
The words mien and bearing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mien is a literary term referring both to bearing and demeanor.
a mien of supreme self-satisfaction