b-e-a-r
BEAR means a large, heavy mammal with thick fur, or to carry, support, endure, or give birth to.
6
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
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.
•4-letter words like BEAR are versatile for creating multiple crosswords
•Knowing uncommon but valid words gives you a significant advantage in word games
•BEAR can often be extended with prefixes or suffixes for even more points
•Polar bears' fur isn't white - it's actually transparent and appears white due to light reflection
""I played BEAR on a triple word score and earned a huge number of points.""
""BEAR is one of those words that can really boost your score in word games.""
"The grizzly bear emerged from hibernation, hungry after months of fasting."
"She couldn't bear to watch the final scene of the tragic movie."
Total base points: 6 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 2
The largest bear species, adapted to Arctic life with webbed paws for swimming and a layer of blubber for insulation. Climate change threatens their sea ice habitat, making them a symbol of environmental conservation.
North American brown bears known for their distinctive shoulder hump and long claws. They can run up to 35 mph and have one of the best senses of smell in the animal kingdom.
Despite their carnivorous ancestry, pandas eat almost exclusively bamboo. Native to China, they've become global conservation icons and diplomatic symbols.
The most common North American bear, surprisingly agile climbers despite their size. Not always black - they can be cinnamon, blonde, or even white (Kermode bears).
"Bear weight," "bear arms," "bear responsibility" - this meaning emphasizes physical or metaphorical carrying. It's often used in formal contexts: "bearing witness" in court or "bearing the standard" in ceremonies.
"Bear the pain," "bear with me," "can't bear it" - expressing patience or suffering. This usage appears frequently in emotional contexts and polite requests for patience.
"Bear children," "bear fruit," "bear resemblance" - creating or producing something. This ancient meaning connects to fertility and creation across many cultures.
"Bear left," "bear north" - indicating direction. Common in navigation and giving directions, especially in formal or maritime contexts.
Bears appear in myths worldwide: Norse berserkers, Native American bear clans, and the Greek myth of Callisto transformed into Ursa Major. They represent strength, healing, and the connection between humans and nature.
From teddy bears offering comfort to children, to national symbols like Russia's bear, to sports mascots like the Chicago Bears, these animals permeate modern culture as symbols of power and protection.
"Bear market" and "bearish" describe pessimistic market conditions. The bear vs. bull metaphor, possibly from bear-baiting and bull-baiting, has defined financial language since the 1700s.
The B (3 points) makes BEAR worth 6 base points. Always try to place the B on double or triple letter scores. A well-placed BEAR can score 15-20 points.
All letters in BEAR are common (E, A, R are among the most frequent), making it easy to form. This accessibility combined with the B value creates excellent scoring opportunities.
BEAR extends easily: BEARS (+5), BEARD (+2), BEARER (+4). It also forms many compounds: FORBEAR, BUGBEAR, CHILDBEAR. The -EAR ending creates parallel play opportunities.
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like BEAR