1 C1 neutral
To drill or pierce into a surface or material in an inward direction.
"The drill bit bored in easily through the soft limestone."
inseparable
bore in
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To drill, push, or advance forcefully and directly inward or toward a target.
In plain English
To dig or push in a very focused way towards the middle of something, or to move aggressively straight at something.
What does "bore in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
To advance or move forcefully and directly toward a target, like an aircraft or attacker.
"The forward bore in on goal and unleashed a powerful shot."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use a boring tool (drill) in an inward direction — to create a hole going inward.
Actually means
To dig or push in a very focused way towards the middle of something, or to move aggressively straight at something.
Usage tip
Used in both literal contexts (drilling machinery boring into a surface) and figurative ones (an athlete, aircraft, or argument advancing relentlessly toward its target). The verb 'bore' here means to drill or pierce, not to cause boredom. Relatively formal or technical in register.
Words that pair with "bore in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rock target centre hole attacker drill
How to conjugate "bore in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bore in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bores in
he/she/it
Past simple
bored in
yesterday
Past participle
bored in
have + pp
-ing form
boring in
continuous
Hear "bore in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bore in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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