1 C1 neutral
In sailing, to alter course so as to move away from a particular shore, hazard, or point.
"As the tide fell, they bore off from the reef and found deeper water to the south."
inseparable
bear off from
C1 neutral inseparable transitive
In sailing, to steer the vessel away from a specific point, shore, or object.
In plain English
To steer a ship away from a particular place, like rocks or land.
What does "bear off from" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To bear (steer) off and away from a specific point.
Actually means
To steer a ship away from a particular place, like rocks or land.
Usage tip
Exclusively nautical and technical. The addition of 'from' specifies the point of departure more precisely than 'bear off' alone. Rarely encountered outside maritime texts.
Words that pair with "bear off from"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
shore coast rocks reef jetty obstacle
How to conjugate "bear off from"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bear off from
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bears off from
he/she/it
Past simple
bore off from
yesterday
Past participle
born/borne off from
have + pp
-ing form
bearing off from
continuous
Hear "bear off from" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bear off from" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.