BEAR means a large, heavy mammal with thick fur, or to carry, support, endure, or give birth to.
Yes. BEAR is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 6 points in Scrabble, 7 in Words With Friends and 7 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | B | E | A | R | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
BEAR is a powerful word with dual identities. As a noun, it refers to large, omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae, including species like grizzlies, polar bears, and black bears. These magnificent creatures are found across North America, Europe, and Asia, symbolizing strength and wilderness.
As a verb, BEAR carries multiple meanings: to carry or support weight ("bear a burden"), to endure or tolerate ("bear the pain"), to give birth to ("bear children"), or to produce ("bear fruit"). This versatility makes it one of English's most useful verbs.
In financial markets, a "bear" represents pessimism about prices, opposite to a "bull." The term "bear market" describes declining stock prices, derived from the downward swipe of a bear's paw. This metaphorical usage adds another dimension to this already rich word.
The word "bear" has fascinating dual origins. The animal name comes from Old English "bera," from Proto-Germanic "*berô," meaning "the brown one" - a taboo replacement for the original Indo-European name, which was avoided by hunters who feared speaking it would summon the beast. The verb "bear" (to carry) comes from Old English "beran," from Proto-Germanic "*beraną," related to Latin "ferre" and Greek "pherein," all meaning "to carry." These separate etymologies merged in English, creating our modern homonyms.
Anagrams: BAREBRAE
Hooks: no front hooks; back BEARD, BEARS.
Words inside BEAR: 16 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: BAREBRAEARBBARBRAREBABBABEAREEARERA. See all words from BEAR.