We Bare Bears is a popular American animated series. There is little doubt that the title is a wordplay with the homophones “bear” and “bare”. I always get confused with the words and often misuse them. Hence, it is worth looking into their usage.
In its adjective form, bare usually means naked, devoid of any coverings; simple and basic. As a verb, it means to expose or uncover. Here are some sentences that will help to provide some context:
- A bare, chubby baby is cute and cuddly but a naked, fat adult will be avoided at all costs!
- The couple stands by the doorway to their new house which is bare of any furnishings.
- The bodybuilder bares his muscular body from the waist up for all to admire.
Meanwhile, a bear is a furry, giant animal that we all know. It is often portrayed as a friendly beast in the movies but that is far from the truth, so don’t go near one. Sometimes, it is also used figuratively to depict a giant or huge person. The confusion with bare comes when it is used as a verb where it means to carry, support or withstand.
- The old structure will not be able to bear the weight of the new equipment.
- Greg’s parents could not afford to bear the expenses of his lavish lifestyle anymore.
- Her husband can’t bear the taste of pickles.
It will not be easy to separate the two words, but hopefully, this article helps to shed some light. There are plenty of posts online that will be able to do a better job than me. Last but not least, for the fun of it, here’s a sentence that utilises both words:
Chased by a family of bears, the jogger ran for his life and barely made it out of the woods alive.
Phew!
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