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

Danny Mortimer, of NHS Employers, which represents hospitals on employment issues, said: "In light of the difficult financial position of the NHS, health leaders are trying to bear down on extra-contractual premium pay rates."

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2024

“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

The back of the sea curled up and fanned out, blocking the sky, threatening to bear down on the island.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray