C1adjective2K

Bare

UK /["/beə(r)/"]/US /["/ber/"]/

Definition

not covered by any clothes

In simple words: Not covered or filled; empty.

Examples

  • The room was absolutely bare with no furniture at all.
  • She walked across the bare floor, which felt cold under her feet.
  • After the storm, the trees stood bare, stripped of their leaves.
  • He gave her a bare minimum of information about the project.
  • The artist's exhibition featured bare canvases that provoked thought.

Usage notes

Use 'bare' when describing something that has nothing on it or is exposed. Avoid in overly formal contexts.

Grammar pattern

bare + object

Memory hint

Think of 'bare' as in 'bear it all'—nothing left to cover.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • remain
  • very
  • completely
  • quite
  • of
  • be
  • look
  • remain
  • very
  • completely
  • quite
  • of
  • be
  • look
  • remain
  • very
  • completely
  • quite
  • of

Synonyms

  • naked
  • empty
  • unclothed
  • exposed
  • stripped

Antonyms

  • full
  • covered
  • clothed

Common mistakes

  • 'Bare' confused with 'bear' (the animal) or 'barely'.
  • 'Bare' used incorrectly as a verb instead of an adjective.
  • 'Bare' misused in contexts where 'naked' or 'empty' is more appropriate.