burden
A problem or job that is hard to deal with and causes worry or work.
A responsibility, duty, or problem that causes stress, difficulty, or hardship.
To give someone work or problems that are hard to deal with.
To cause someone to have a lot of problems, responsibilities, or worries that are hard to deal with.
Something heavy that a person or animal carries.
A heavy load that someone or something must carry physically.
- Base: burden
- Plural: burdens
- Base: burden
- 3rd Person Singular: burdens
- Present Participle: burdening
- Past: burdened
be a burden on/to someone
1Cause trouble or responsibility for someone
To make life harder for someone because they have to take care of you or your problems.
- I don't want to be a burden on my children when I'm older.
- His illness has been a burden to the whole family.
carry the burden
1Bear responsibility or difficulty over time
To have and deal with a difficult job or problem for some time.
- For years, she carried the burden of debt.
- They carry the burden of supporting their large family.
ease the burden
1Make responsibility or difficulty lighter
To make a problem or job less hard.
- Hiring more staff will ease the burden on existing employees.
- Financial aid helped ease the burden of tuition costs.
shoulder the burden
1Accept and carry responsibility or duty
To accept and deal with a difficult job or problem.
- After his father died, he had to shoulder the burden of running the farm.
- She willingly shouldered the burden of caring for her siblings.