1
a
: something that is carried : load
dropped his burden of firewood
b
: duty, responsibility
forced to bear the burden of caring for her aging parents
lowering the tax burden on the middle class
2
: something oppressive or worrisome
a heavy burden of guilt
was a huge financial burden on his family
3
a
: the bearing of a load
—usually used in the phrase beast of burden
b
: capacity for carrying cargo
a ship of a hundred tons burden
4
: load sense 11
worm burdens of cattle
cancer burden
Synonyms
Examples of burden in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens
the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game
Verb
I don't wish to burden you with my problems.
burdened the dog with a little backpack
Noun (2)
had some trouble coming up with a burden for the song
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The burden of justice:Delphi murder case jurors will face unimaginable pressure, life-changing decision
Baldwin, his voice raising, said that contradicts Mullin's earlier testimony.
—Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Trump believes regulations unnecessarily burden companies, especially small- and medium-sized businesses.
—Rohit Arora, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for burden 
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Noun
Opponents say the burden will unfairly shift onto new homeowners, renters and other property holders.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The burden of justice:Delphi murder case jurors will face unimaginable pressure, life-changing decision
Baldwin, his voice raising, said that contradicts Mullin's earlier testimony.
—Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The report said the fees disproportionately burden lower-income households, which tend to make smaller, more frequent electronic deposits into their children’s accounts.
—Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Trump believes regulations unnecessarily burden companies, especially small- and medium-sized businesses.
—Rohit Arora, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for burden
Dictionary Entries Near burden
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burden. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
burden
2 of 2 noun1
: the refrain or chorus of a song
2
: a main idea : gist
Etymology
Noun
Old English byrthen "load, burden"
Noun
an altered form of earlier bourdon "a refrain or chorus of a song," from Middle English burdoun (same meaning), from early French burdun "bass horn"
Medical Definition
burden
noun
bur·den
ˈbərd-ᵊn 
: load sense 3
worm burden
cancer burden
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