1. Sail towards another vessel, of a ship
   "The pirate ship bore down on the merchant vessel";
   - bear down upon
    
2. Exert a force with a heavy weight
   "The snow bore down on the roof";
   - drag down, bear down, press down on, weigh down

Derived forms: bears down on, bore down on, bearing down on, borne down on

Type of: approach, come near, come on, draw close, draw near, near, press