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to bear upon

to bear upon

1 5.8
Have an effect on or relate to something
  • phrasal verb
  • /bɛr əˈpɒn/
translation icon : repercutir en
  • Moreover, as we have already seen, when interpreting, literary critics bring contexts to bear upon texts besides the author's intentions.
  • brought to bear upon
  • bear upon the issue
  • data that bear upon

Temperance is going to be a particularly important virtue, especially since it bears upon the pleasures of the bodies.

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Examples

  • There are a number of international agreements and mandates that bear upon the issue of gender equality and development.

    Academic text (2008)
  • We are choosing something that bears upon our moral character, bears upon the core of who we are.

  • Consider, rather, those acts which will bear upon your next life.

  • Before turning to these matters, however, we can set forth certain general principles that must bear upon our determination.

    Academic text (1996)
  • But how, it might be asked, does such thinking bear upon the social realists?

    Academic text (1991)
  • If your office has information bearing upon the bail status of this case, I instruct you to make a formal application.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • We now bring the theses argued in the previous section to bear upon an exemplary case.

    Academic text (2009)
  • So far we have approached the different concepts of LC that can be brought to bear upon a text from a methodological or metatheoretical perspective.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Recent findings bear upon our understanding of climate change.

  • The new regulations will bear upon small businesses significantly.

Synonyms

to affect
vsto bear upon
3.0

To cause a change in a person or thing

also covers being related or concerned, not only causing change
to impact
vsto bear upon
255 3.4

To have a strong effect on someone or something

tends to be milder and include simple relation or influence
to bear on
vsto bear upon
31 5.1

To be connected with or affect something

is the same idea but in a different phrasing
to act upon
vsto bear upon
16 3.5

Make someone or something change

also refers to relation or concern as well as influence
to touch on
vsto bear upon
3 4.0

To affect something or someone, often slightly

means broader concern or influence rather than only slight effect

Antonyms

1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

How Relevant

to determine
282 3.1
to affect
3.0
to bear upon
1 5.8
to pertain
108 4.6
to relate
317 2.2

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

bear + upon

The meaning 'to have an effect on or relate to' is a metaphorical extension of 'bear' (to carry/hold) combined with 'upon' (on/about), so there is a clear link to the constituent meanings. However, the specific relational/causal sense is a conventional collocation and not fully predictable for a B1 learner without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The verb phrase `bear upon` comes from the simple picture of bear meaning 'to carry or press' and upon meaning 'on top of', like a weight pressing on something. So when something bears upon an issue, it 'affects' or 'relates to' that issue.