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Is it ‘Bear With Me’ or ‘Bare’ with Me’, Explained

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Dalia Y

BA, MA, Phil. Grammarflex's initial initiator and contributor.

‘Bare with me’ or ‘bear with me’

👍🏼Usage Note
✓
Please bear with me while I find the file.
✓
She held the hot plate with her bare hands.
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You need to bare with me for a moment.
✗
The minimalist room had bear walls.

Also known as the difference between asking someone if they’re naked, or politely asking them to be patient while you figure something out.

Don’t mess this one up, folks! Keep reading to learn how to use the phrases “bear with me” and “bear with me.”

Is it “Bare With” or “Bear With”?

Examples with the verb “bear” Examples with “bare”
I can’t bear seeing you cry. I opened the box with my bare hands.

Bear can be a noun or a verb: the former refers to the wild animal, such as the Grizzly or Polar Bear. The latter means to endure or tolerate something usually unpleasant. This is the correct spelling and meaning of the phrase “bear with me“, and adjacent phrases that use the verb form of ‘bear’ (e.g., “bear in mind”).

On the other hand, something (or someone) that’s bare is uncovered or empty (‘the fridge was completely bare‘). In other words, ‘bare’ is an adjective, whereas ‘bear’ is mostly a verb.

Note: The adjective bare also describes something as basic or essential, as in the popular phrase, the bare necessities.

“Bare” / “bear”, used in sentences

Sentences with the adjective bare
She likes to walk around in bare feet.

The windows looked out onto a bare field.

The walls were bare except for a clock.
Sentences with the verb bear
She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.

We could hardly bear to be outdoors in the blinding sunlight.

How can you bear this awful noise?
💡Study Tip

“bear with me,” visualize a patient bear waiting. “Bare” means uncovered, like a bare tree.

In Review: Bear vs. Bare

Though we spell and pronounce it the same as the noun, aka the Grizzly bear, they are distinct in meaning.

Bear is mostly a verb that means to endure or carry the burden of something that’s usually difficult or unpleasant; “to be able to accept and deal with something unpleasant,” as the online dictionary states.

If you have trouble remembering the correct word, try to associate ‘bear’ with the wild animal; “bare” is similar to “basic” and starts with the letters b and a.

Phrases with bear and bare

Phrases with “bear” Meaning
to bear arms to carry a gun or a weapon
to bear a resemblance to look similar to someone
as busy as a hibernating bear meaning not busy
Phrases with bare Meaning
bare bones Meaning meaning only the essentials or minimum of something.
bare necessities To have only what is needed or necessary; just enough or sufficient.
bare naked Meaning nude; naked.
bare minimum To do the smallest or least amount possible.
to bare one’s breasts To leave yourself open or vulnerable to something/someone.
to bare one’s teeth To display anger or a threatening reaction to something/someone.

Read about other confusing words

Commonly misused words UK English vs. US English
former vs. latter burned or burnt?
bear with vs. bare with color or colour?
breathe or breath favorite vs. favourite
compliment vs. complement smelled or smelt?
effect vs. affect gray or grey?
elude or allude favor vs. favour
it’s or its analyze or analyse?

Work Sheet

Question 1 of 10

According to the blog post, what is the correct meaning of the phrase “bear with me”?



In the phrase “bear with me,” what part of speech is the word “bear”?



What does the word “bare” mean when used as an adjective?



Which spelling is correct for politely asking someone to be patient?



According to the blog, using “bare with me” incorrectly is like asking someone if they are:



Please ______ with me while I try to fix this computer issue.



The room was decorated in a minimalist style with ______ walls.



She held the cold drink with her ______ hands.



I couldn’t ______ to watch the end of the sad movie.



The old tree was ______ of leaves in the winter.





Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct phrase for patience?
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It is “bear with me.” The word “bear” is used as a verb meaning to endure or be patient, like waiting while someone finds something. It does not mean uncovered.

Why is “bare with me” incorrect?
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“Bare” means uncovered or empty, as in “bare hands” or “bare walls.” Using it in “bare with me” incorrectly suggests being naked or empty, not asking for patience as intended.

What does the word ‘bare’ mean?
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“Bare” is mainly used as an adjective meaning uncovered, empty, or basic, like “bare feet” or “bare necessities.” It describes something lacking covering or essential.

What does the word ‘bear’ mean?
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As a verb, “bear” means to endure, tolerate, or carry a burden, often something difficult or unpleasant, as in “I can’t bear seeing you cry.” It’s also the animal.

How can I remember bear vs bare?
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Visualize a patient “bear” waiting for “bear with me.” “Bare” means uncovered or empty, like a “bare” tree or associating it with the word “basic.”

Yash, D. "Is it ‘Bear With Me’ or ‘Bare’ with Me’, Explained." Grammarflex, Jun 17, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/is-it-bare-with-me-or-bear-with-me-explained/.

Sources

  1. Bare, Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, accessed on October 4, 2023. Bear, Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, accessed on October 4, 2023. Wikipedia contributors. “Grizzly bear.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 Jan. 2024. Web. 31 Jan. 2024. Idioms with bare, The Free Dictionary

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