26984 words

burden

8 definitions • 18 examples
1
a heavy load that you carry:

Examples:

heavy burden The little donkey struggled under its heavy burden.
2
something difficult or unpleasant that you have to deal with or worry about:

Examples:

the burden of responsibility
heavy burden I'm afraid this role may have become too much of a heavy burden for you.
burden to My elderly mother worries that she's a burden to me.
burden on We need to avoid putting a burden on taxpayers with this project.
financial burden Buying a house often places a large financial burden on young couples.
3
to trouble someone with something difficult or unpleasant:

Examples:

burden someone with something I don't want to burden you with my problems.
The irony of it is that the new tax system will burden those it was intended to help.
4
a duty or responsibility that is hard to bear:

Examples:

I don’t want to be a burden on my children.
5
to give someone problems, trouble, or responsibilities:

Examples:

He was burdened with debts.
6
a difficult situation or unpleasant responsibility that you must deal with or worry about:

Examples:

ease/lighten/reduce the burden (on sb) By training additional staff, management could significantly ease the burden on its over-worked personnel.
heavy/big/enormous burden I sympathize with the heavy burden of paperwork they have to deal with.
the administrative/legal burden
7
the responsibility of paying money that you owe, or the large amount of money that you owe:

Examples:

bear/carry/assume the burden (for sth) If the new law is passed, tax payers will assume the burden for rising energy costs.
financial/economic burden He proposed that the state accept the financial burden.
a tax/mortgage/loan burden
8
to make someone responsible for something that is very difficult, unpleasant, or expensive to deal with:

Examples:

be burdened with/by sth Borrowers are already burdened with mortgage extras such as arrangement fees and life assurance cover.

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