bury
Bury (verb) means to place a body in the ground, typically as part of a funeral. Example: “They buried her grandfather beside the old oak tree.”
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.
The pronunciation doesn't match the spelling — it rhymes with "merry," not "fury"; this is a spelling quirk left over from Old English dialects.
Word forms
buried past tense, buries plural, buries plural, buries singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He tried to _____ the memory of that difficult year.
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."
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.