Bear Down On

Pronunciation: /bɛr daʊn ɒn/

Definitions of bear down on

verb to move or press towards someone or something with force

Example Sentences

A1 The storm began to bear down on the small town.

A2 The teacher told the students to bear down on their studies for the upcoming exam.

B1 The competition is starting to bear down on the leading team in the championship.

B2 The deadline is bearing down on us, we need to finish this project quickly.

C1 The responsibility of managing a large team is bearing down on the new manager.

C2 The pressure of the situation is bearing down on me, but I know I can handle it.

adverb in a forceful or intense manner

Example Sentences

A1 The teacher told the children to bear down on their pencils while drawing.

A2 The storm clouds began to bear down on the small village.

B1 The deadline for the project is bearing down on us, we need to work quickly.

B2 The opposing team started to bear down on our defense, putting pressure on us.

C1 The responsibility of managing the entire department is bearing down on her shoulders.

C2 The weight of expectations from the investors is bearing down on the CEO as the company faces a financial crisis.

preposition indicating the direction towards which something is moving or being applied

Example Sentences

A1 The storm clouds began to bear down on the small town.

A2 As the deadline approached, the pressure started to bear down on the team.

B1 The competition is starting to bear down on us, we need to step up our game.

B2 The responsibility of managing the project began to bear down on her as the launch date neared.

C1 The weight of the decision bore down on him as he realized the impact it would have on the company.

C2 The impending court case bore down on the defendant, causing sleepless nights and anxiety.

Examples of bear down on in a Sentence

formal The storm began to bear down on the coastal town, prompting evacuations.

informal I could see the deadline bearing down on me, so I started working faster.

slang The cops were bearing down on the suspect as he tried to flee the scene.

figurative The weight of his responsibilities began to bear down on him, causing stress and anxiety.

Grammatical Forms of bear down on

• past tense: bore down on
• present tense: bears down on
• future tense: will bear down on
• perfect tense: has borne down on
• continuous tense: is bearing down on
• singular: bears down on
• infinitive: to bear down on
• gerund: bearing down on
• participle: bearing down on

Origin and Evolution of bear down on

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'bear down on' originated from the combination of the Old English word 'beran' meaning 'to carry' or 'to bear' and the preposition 'on'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in a literal sense to describe physically pressing down or carrying a heavy load, the phrase 'bear down on' evolved over time to also convey the idea of exerting pressure or force on something or someone, often in a figurative or metaphorical sense.