bury
B1Neutral to Formal. Common in everyday, news, and formal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To place or hide something underground, typically a dead body or object.
To completely cover or hide something; to forget or put an end to something (like an argument or emotion); to defeat decisively or occupy fully.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core sense is literal interment. Extended senses involve metaphors of covering, hiding, or ending. The 'defeat' sense is informal (sports/competition).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. Spelling: 'buried', 'burying' (same). The 'bury the lede' idiom (journalism) is more common in US English (spelled 'lede').
Connotations
Largely identical. 'Bury' in the sense of defeat (e.g., 'bury the opposition') is slightly more common in US sports commentary.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + bury + [Object] (He buried the box).[Subject] + bury + [Object] + in/under/with [Location/Medium] (She buried her face in her hands).[Subject] + bury + [Object] + alive (figurative: The team was buried alive by bad press).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bury the hatchet (end a conflict)”
- “Bury your head in the sand (ignore a problem)”
- “Bury the lede (fail to emphasize the main point)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company tried to bury the bad news in the annual report." (to hide)
Academic
"The archaeological site was buried under several metres of sediment." (to cover over time)
Everyday
"I'm going to bury these old letters in the attic." (to hide away)
Technical
"The utility lines must be buried at a depth of 60 centimetres." (to place underground)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They will bury the time capsule in the school garden.
- He decided to bury his feelings and carry on.
- The avalanche buried the mountain village.
American English
- She's going to bury the old photographs in the backyard.
- The senator tried to bury the controversial amendment in the bill.
- Our team buried them 10-0 in last night's game.
adverb
British English
- No common adverbial form. 'Deeply buried' uses the adjective.
- The secret was buried deep within the archives.
American English
- No common adverbial form. 'The treasure was buried deep.' uses an adjective/adverb combo.
- The facts were buried deep in the report.
adjective
British English
- The buried cable was accidentally severed by builders.
- She has a buried memory of the event.
- A buried treasure trove was discovered.
American English
- The buried utility line was marked with orange paint.
- He struggled with buried resentment.
- It's like finding a buried treasure in your attic.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog likes to bury bones in the garden.
- We will bury the seeds in the soil.
- The ancient city was buried by a volcanic eruption.
- Don't bury your keys in the bottom of your bag.
- The journalist accused the government of trying to bury the scandal.
- She buried her face in the pillow to muffle her sobs.
- The two rival factions have finally agreed to bury the hatchet after decades of conflict.
- He is so buried in his research that he rarely leaves the laboratory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BERRY. Imagine you're hiding a BERRY in the earth to save it for later. You BURY the BERRY.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIDING IS BURYING (bury a secret); ENDING/ABANDONING IS BURYING (bury the past); OVERWHELMING IS BURYING (buried in work).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'беру' (I take).
- The Russian verb 'хоронить' is a direct equivalent for the core meaning.
- The figurative 'bury the hatchet' has a different metaphor in Russian ('закопать топор войны').
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'burried' (incorrect), 'burried' (incorrect). Correct: buried, burying.
- Pronunciation: Mispronouncing as /ˈbʌr.i/ (like 'hurry'). Correct: /ˈber.i/ (like 'berry').
- Overusing the literal sense when a figurative one is needed.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common pronunciation of 'bury' in both British and American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is pronounced /ˈber.i/ (like the word 'berry'), not like 'hurry'. This is the same in both British and American English.
The past tense and past participle is 'buried' (pronounced /ˈber.id/).
Yes, it is commonly used for hiding or covering objects (bury treasure), emotions (bury feelings), and in idioms (bury the hatchet).
'Bury' is the general, common word. 'Inter' is more formal and is used almost exclusively for placing a dead body in a grave or tomb.