verb

bore

baw

verb

To make someone feel uninterested and tired through dullness.

"The long lecture bored most of the students within ten minutes."

To drill a hole through something.

"Workers bored a tunnel straight through the mountain."

noun

A person or thing that is dull and uninteresting.

"He's a bit of a bore at parties — always talking about spreadsheets."

The inner diameter of a tube or gun barrel.

"The rifle has a slightly wider bore than the older model."

How to Use Bore

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo drill a hole, or to make someone feel dull and tired — also, a dull person, or the width of a hole/barrel.

Common mistake

Note "bore" is also the past tense of the verb "bear" (as in "she bore the weight") — a completely different word with the same spelling.

Common pairings

bore a hole a crashing bore bore someone to tears

Word Forms

bored past tense, bores plural, bores plural, bores singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The long lecture _____ most of the students within ten minutes.

Etymology

From Old English "borian" ("to pierce"), related to Latin words for piercing or striking; the "dull person" sense likely grew from the idea of wearing someone down, as if drilling into them.

Synonyms

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banality snooze snoozer

Antonyms

interest thrillsville

Related Words

sleep interest occupation apathy snooze banality

Rhymes for bore

ore tore yore lore more core fore sore gore pore adore score

See all rhymes for bore →

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