bear on

English

Verb

bear on (third-person singular simple present bears on, present participle bearing on, simple past bore on, past participle borne on)

1. To influence, have an effect on.
2. To be relevant to.

   That ruling bears on our application.

   • 1905, Basil Hall Chamberlain, Things Japanese, Introductory Chapter:

     In order to enable the reader to supply deficiencies and to form his own opinions, if haply he should be of so unusual a turn of mind as to desire so to do, we have, at the end of almost every article, indicated the names of trustworthy works bearing on the subject treated in that article.

3. To harm, hinder or be a burden upon.

Synonyms

• bear upon; See also Thesaurus:pertain

Anagrams

• Barone, Borean, aborne, borane