bore

BOR/boɹ/UKBAW/bɔː(ɹ)/

Verbbores, boring, bored

Noun pluralbores

15 meanings of bore

Practice

1
fail to interestverbtransitive
To make someone feel bored because something is dull.
Like sitting through a long wait with nothing to do.
Long meetings bore me to tears.
The teacher's monotone voice bored the entire class.
UsageYou feel bored; the thing is boring: I am bored (not ~~incorrect: I am boring~~).
Similartire, weary
Oppositeinterest, fascinate, entertain, excite
Note
2
bear (past)verb
Past tense of bear. Use it for the past.
She bore the heavy load without complaint.
The tree bore fruit all summer long.
UsageAfter has or had, use borne: she has borne it.
3
dull thingnouncountable
A thing or activity that is dull and not interesting.
Like waiting in a long line with nothing to do.
The movie turned out to be a complete bore.
Cleaning the garage is such a bore.
UsageSay what a bore or such a bore.
Similardrag, chore, yawn, pain
Oppositethrill, delight, treat
Note
4
dull personnouncountable
A person who makes other people feel bored.
Like a TV show so dull you want to change the channel.
Everyone avoided him because he was such a bore.
Try not to be a bore at the dinner table.
Similardrag, windbag
5
verbtransitive
To make a hole in something with a drill or another turning tool.
Like pushing a straw through the lid of a drink.
Workers bore a tunnel through the mountain.
The drill bored a neat hole through the steel plate.
UsageThe past is bored: he bored a hole in the wall.
Similardrill, pierce, tunnel, perforate
Note
6
nouncountable
The hole through something, like the inside of a gun barrel or pipe, or how wide it is.
Like the empty space inside a drinking straw.
The bore of the pipe was too narrow for the cable.
Mechanics measured the bore before fitting the new piston.
Similarhole, diameter, caliber
Note

Less common meanings

7
nouncountable
A deep hole dug to get water from under the ground, or the place where it is.
Like a long straw pushed deep into the ground to reach water.
The farmer drilled a new bore to water his cattle.
Their bore ran dry during the long drought.
Similarborehole, well
8
tide wavenouncountable
A large wave that rushes up a river when the tide comes in fast.
Like a wall of water moving up a river instead of down it.
A powerful bore swept up the river as the tide rose.
Tourists gather every spring to watch the bore roll inland.
Note
9
verbtransitive
To push slowly and with great effort through something, like thick jungle.
Like slowly pushing your way through a thick crowd.
Moles bore tunnels through the soft soil.
He bored his way through the dense crowd to reach the stage.
UsageOften bore your way through something.
Similartunnel, burrow, force, push
Note
10
stare hardverbintransitive
To stare at someone very hard, as if your eyes could make a hole.
Like trying to make a hole in someone just by staring hard.
When she's angry, her eyes seem to bore right through you.
His cold eyes bored into me from across the table.
UsageSay someone's eyes bore into you.
Similardrill, burn
11
bear (after has)verbnonstandard
Past participle of bear. This nonstandard form is used after has, have, or had, where standard English uses borne.
She has bore that burden for years.
They had bore the cost without complaint.
Note
12
push off courseverbslangtransitive
To push a person or boat off course or into a wall.
Like using your body to shove another player off the ball.
The bigger boxer bored his rival into the ropes.
He tried to bore the other boat off its line.
Similarpush, drive, force, shove, crowd
Note
13
verbobsolete
To fool or trick someone.
Note
14
noundated
A tool used to make holes by turning, like an auger.
15
nounarchaic
How important or how good someone or something is.
Yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter.
c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”

bore is a form of bear

bear, verb: To have or show a particular mark or feature. Full entry

Forms: bearbears he/she/itbearing -ing formbore past tenseborne past participle
Spelling: bear → bore: irregular (no -ed)

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of bore apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 3–7, 9–10, 12–13

From an Old English word borian meaning "to pierce," from older Germanic roots. The "make weary" sense may come from a figurative idea like "to bore the ears."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Bore comes from Old English borian, meaning to pierce. en.wiktionary.org
Borian descends from older Germanic forms. en.wiktionary.org
Boring the ears is a proposed figurative explanation of the make-weary sense. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 8

From Old Norse bára meaning "wave" or "billow," from an old root meaning "to bear" or carry.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Bore derives from Old Norse bára. en.wiktionary.org
Old Norse bára means wave or billow. en.wiktionary.org
Bára ultimately derives from a root meaning to bear or carry. en.wiktionary.org