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Glite Dictionary
🔗 To relate to 💪 To push to act
to bear on

to bear on

5 7.0
To push someone to do or finish something
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɛr ɑn/
translation icon : ejercer presión sobre
  • Two of the works under review here employ in-depth case studies to bring a wealth of evidence to bear on this controversy.
  • brought to bear on
  • pressure brought to bear on

We can bring pressure to bear on corporations.

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Examples

  • A challenge, then, for evidence-based practice is how to bring the best available evidence to bear on these kinds of problems that are not addressed by empirically supported treatment reviews.

    Academic text (2012)

  • In the case of Crovitz's article, the power of the press came quickly to bear on the issue.

    Blog text (19)

  • I want the moral force of international opinion brought to bear on the British government.

    Michael Collins (1996)

  • We can bring pressure to bear on corporations.

    Megyn Kelly

  • And both would surrender the considerable leverage that Medicare can bring to bear on providers to reduce spending and improve quality.

    Blog text (20)

  • What are the limits and ethics that bear on the teaching of indigenous religions by non-Natives in public institutions?

    Academic text (1996)

  • Equally, the growing number of graduate and postgraduate students interested in studying contemporary art can only bring new pressures to bear on the discipline, despite the dwindling number of African art programs and faculty positions, especially in American and European universities.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The coach will bring pressure to bear on the players to improve their performance.

  • The government plans to bring increased pressure to bear on companies that pollute the environment.

  • She decided to bring her concerns to bear on the discussion about workplace safety.

Synonyms

to push
vsto bear on
958 1.1

To urge someone to do something or try harder

applies firmer insisting pressure to cause action rather than gentle urging
to impel
vsto bear on
4 7.2

To make someone feel they must do something, often because of pressure or need

means exactly the same action with no extra nuance
to bear down on
vsto bear on
3 5.5

To press hard on something with great force

focuses on urging completion of action rather than physical compression
to bear down
vsto bear on
2 7.0

Press hard on something or make it feel heavy

targets motivating a person to act rather than just causing pressure
to bring pressure to bear
vsto bear on
  • Formal
1 6.0

To use influence to persuade someone to do something

aims to drive someone to finish an action rather than just persuade

Antonyms

to dissuade
35 6.0

To try to stop someone from doing something by talking to them

How Forceful

to coerce
  • Offensive
91 6.4
to compel
258 4.8
to impel
4 7.2
to bear on
5 7.0
to urge
591 3.2
to encourage
∞ 2.3
to suggest
∞ 1.6

Surface Forms

bear on infinitive
bearing on present participle
bears on third person singular
bore on past
borne on past participle

Morphology

bear + on

The constituents 'bear' (carry/hold) and 'on' (upon/affecting) give a plausible metaphorical sense of exerting influence or having relevance, so a learner who knows both words can partly infer the idea of 'having an effect on' or 'relating to' something. However, the exact senses (e.g., 'have a bearing on', 'affect', or 'press/impel') are figurative and not fully predictable from the literal meanings, so prior exposure is usually needed to pin down the precise usage.

Etymology

Bear on here comes from the image of bear as weight or force and on as contact, like something pressing on a person. When worries or a tight deadline press on you, they push you to act, so the phrase means 'to force or urge someone to do something'.