Phrasal verb
bear with
Meanings
to be patient with someone or tolerate a delay or difficulty
Definition
To bear with someone means to be patient and wait while they do something or while a situation improves.
If you ask someone to bear with you, you are asking them to be patient for a short time. It is often used when there is a delay, a problem, or extra steps before you can finish. The phrase is polite and common in spoken English, emails, and customer service situations.
Examples
- Please bear with me while I restart my computer.
- Could you bear with us for a few minutes while we set up the room?
- He asked the audience to bear with him as the slides loaded.
- I know the instructions are long, but bear with me and it will make sense.
- They thanked the guests for bearing with them during the late start.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "bear with" (be patient) with "bare with" (be naked with), which is incorrect in this meaning.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.