bear down

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That question matters more than ever as tariffs, surging energy prices and the threat of artificial intelligence bear down on the broader economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

New reporting requirements for digital platforms came into effect on 1 January 2024 with the government saying they would help it "bear down on tax evasion".

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025

Ministers say that the enormous piece of legislation will target the crimes that communities want prioritised to make their areas feel safer and to bear down on behaviour that has gone unpunished.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2025

“Just hold on,“ snipes a young actor with whom she has a run-in, feeling that weight bear down on him.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024

I bear down so hard, my pencil lead breaks.

From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord