Cool MateBear vs Tolerate
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bear
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Tolerate
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Bear
| Bear | Tolerate | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/beə(r)/","/beəz/","/bɔː(r)/","/bɔːn/","/ˈbeərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ber/","/berz/","/bɔːr/","/bɔːrn/","/ˈberɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɒləreɪt/","/ˈtɒləreɪts/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɒləreɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɑːləreɪt/","/ˈtɑːləreɪts/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪd/","/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | a large wild animal with thick fur that lives in the forest | To accept something unpleasant without complaining. |
| Example | I can't bear the thought of losing my best friend. | I can tolerate cold weather, but I prefer warmer climates. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | be able to, can, be unable to | barely, just, merely, be unable to, cannot, not be prepared to, barely, just, merely, be unable to, cannot, not be prepared to, readily, well, poorly, be unable to, cannot, will not |
| Antonyms | yield, surrender | reject, insist, oppose |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'bear' as a verb meaning to carry with the animal., Using the wrong article, e.g., 'a bear' instead of 'the bear' when referring to a specific bear. | Confused with 'endorse' — tolerate means to accept, not to support., Using intransitively (e.g., 'I tolerate' without an object)., Mixing up with 'put up with' — tolerate is more formal. |
| Usage notes | Use 'bear' when talking about the animal. Avoid using it in a metaphorical sense unless context is clear. | Used in everyday conversation and writing. It's appropriate in neutral and formal contexts, but can sound weak in informal contexts where stronger emotions are expected. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Bear vs Tolerate
What's the difference between Bear and Tolerate?
Bear: a large wild animal with thick fur that lives in the forest Tolerate: To accept something unpleasant without complaining.
Which is more common: Bear and Tolerate?
Bear is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Bear and Tolerate?
Tolerate is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Bear and Tolerate the same CEFR level?
Bear: B2, Tolerate: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Bear and Tolerate?
Bear: verb, Tolerate: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Bear: I can't bear the thought of losing my best friend. Tolerate: I can tolerate cold weather, but I prefer warmer climates.
Can I use Bear and Tolerate interchangeably?
Not always. Bear and Tolerate are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.