rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryburdenCarried load
noun / verb

burden

BUR-dun/ˈbɜːrdn/

A heavy load that must be carried.

The man bends beneath the heavy burden across his back.

An older man visibly strained beneath a large, heavy sack carried across his back, making the physical-load sense of burden immediately concrete.
Etymology
burdenOld Englishload, weight, duty

Old English byrðen covered both a physical load and a duty. The modern worry sense treats a troubling responsibility as something a person must carry.

In context

PBS NewsHour0:07
Women bear the biggest part of the burden of caring for older Americans and their growing need for medical care and other support.
As America’s population ages, women shoulder the burden as primary caregivers

More examples

  • Medical bills placed a severe burden on the family.
  • She did not want to burden him with another worry.
  • The study measured the disease burden across the region.

Forms

burden · burdens · burdened · burdening

Similar words

load
A general amount carried, while burden emphasizes weight or difficulty.