burden

burden — noun

1. a load so heavy that carrying it takes real effort.

1.nounB2
Definition

a load so heavy that carrying it takes real effort.

Example

Two donkeys carried the burden of salt up the mountain road.

burden of + noun

The porter moved the burden from one shoulder to the other.

move a burden from one shoulder to the other

Common collocations
  • carry a burden
  • lift a burden
  • heavy burden
  • burden on the back
Synonyms
  • load

    the closest everyday word; more neutral in tone

  • weight

    focuses more on heaviness than on the act of carrying

  • pack

    often refers to a set of things carried together

Antonyms
  • relief

    used when weight is taken away and carrying becomes easier

Grammar Patterns

carry a burden

burden of + noun

burden on + body part/animal

Usage Note

Usually literal and physical. Distinguish from noun/2: this sense names an actual thing being carried, not a duty, cost, or worry.

Common Mistakes

Paying the bills was a burden on the table.
The bag of books was a burden on the table.
This sense is for real weight, not responsibilities or worries.

2. a duty, problem, or worry that puts lasting pressure on someone.

2.nounC1
Definition

a duty, problem, or worry that puts lasting pressure on someone.

Example

Student debt was a burden that stayed with Priya for years.

burden that + clause

High bus fares place a burden on poor families in winter.

burden on + person/group

Common collocations
  • financial burden
  • burden on families
  • carry a burden
  • shoulder a burden
Synonyms
  • responsibility

    can be neutral or positive; burden stresses difficulty

  • load

    often overlaps in figurative use, especially in everyday speech

  • strain

    focuses on the stress produced rather than the duty itself

  • weight

    suggests emotional pressure, especially in phrases like a weight on your mind

Antonyms
  • relief

    describes the feeling when pressure is removed

  • support

    help that makes the duty or problem easier to manage

Grammar Patterns

a burden on + person/group

become a burden

put a burden on + person/group

Usage Note

Often followed by on in phrases like a burden on families, workers, or taxpayers. Distinguish from noun/1: this sense can be emotional, financial, or social, not something in your hands.

Common Mistakes

The sofa was a burden after the movers left.
Paying for the new sofa was a burden after the movers left.
This sense is about pressure or responsibility, not the object's physical weight.

burden — verb

Word family

  • burdened
    adjectiveC1
  • burdensome
    adjectiveC1
  • unburden
    verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

These words all connect to difficulty, but they point to different kinds of pressure. A 'burden' is something you have to carry in life, often with a negative feeling because it is tiring, costly, or hard to escape. A 'responsibility' can be heavy, but it is not always negative; it may simply be a duty. 'Load' is common in everyday speech and can be either physical or figurative. 'Strain' focuses on the stress caused by a situation rather than the duty itself. 'Weight' often describes emotional pressure, especially on the mind or heart. Compare: 'Student debt became a burden,' 'Caring for the children is a responsibility,' 'She still carries most of the load at home,' 'The long hours put strain on his health,' and 'The secret was a weight on her mind.'

burden ↗responsibility ↗load ↗strain ↗weight ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • heavy burden

Phrases

  • bear a burden
  • carry a burden
  • shoulder a burden

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

The word comes from Old English 'byrthen', which meant a load or something carried. It is related to the old verb 'beran', meaning 'to bear' or 'carry'. That early idea still explains both main senses in modern English: a burden can be a real load on your back, or a duty, cost, or worry that you have to carry through life.