bury
BEH-ree
Bury (verb) means to place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral. Example: “The family gathered at the churchyard to bury their beloved aunt.”
verb
1
To place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral.
"The family gathered at the churchyard to bury their beloved aunt."
"In many countries, people bury the dead within a few days."
"They buried her grandfather beside the old oak tree."
2
To put something in the ground and cover it over.
"We planted the bulbs by burying them deep in the soil."
"Pirates in the story bury their treasure on a remote island."
"The dog buried its bone in the garden."
3
To hide or suppress a feeling, memory, or fact.
"She buried her disappointment and smiled politely at the winner."
"He tried to bury the memory of that difficult year."
"The scandal was quickly buried by the news cycle."
4
To put an end to something, such as a disagreement.
"It is time to bury our differences and work as a team."
"After years of silence, the sisters decided to bury their quarrel."
"The two old rivals agreed to bury the hatchet."
How to use bury
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo put something in the ground and cover it, or figuratively to hide, suppress, or end something.
Common mistake
The pronunciation doesn't match the spelling — it rhymes with "merry," not "fury"; this is a spelling quirk left over from Old English dialects.
Common pairings
bury the hatchet
bury a body
bury your feelings
bury the truth
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Word forms
- Plural
- buries
- Third person singular
- buries
- Past tense
- buried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The family gathered at the churchyard to _____ their beloved aunt.
Etymology
From Old English "byrgan," itself from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to keep safe" — ultimately connected to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to protect."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bury
See all rhymes for bury →Frequently asked questions
What does “bury” mean?
The word “bury” means to place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral. In plain terms, to put something in the ground and cover it, or figuratively to hide, suppress, or end something.
How do you pronounce “bury”?
“Bury” is pronounced BEH-ree (/ˈbɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “bury” in a sentence?
Here is “bury” used in a sentence: “He tried to bury the memory of that difficult year.”
What part of speech is “bury”?
“Bury” is a verb.
Where does the word “bury” come from?
The word “bury” comes from Old English. From Old English "byrgan," itself from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to keep safe" — ultimately connected to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to protect.".
Is “bury” a common word?
“Bury” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “bury” have?
“Bury” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral.
What is the difference between 'bury' and 'berry'?
Bury and berry sound alike in many accents but are unrelated words. Bury is a verb meaning to place something in the ground or to hide it, while berry is a noun for a small fruit.
What is the difference between 'bury' and 'hide'?
Both can mean to keep something out of sight, but bury suggests covering something over completely, often deep down, whereas hide simply means placing it where it cannot be seen. Figuratively, to bury a feeling implies suppressing it firmly, while to hide a feeling can be more temporary.
What is the past tense of 'bury'?
The past tense and past participle of bury are both buried. The y changes to i before the -ed ending, following the usual spelling rule for verbs ending in a consonant plus y.
