Illustration of gear
- G gear 6a(2)
2
: equipment, paraphernalia
fishing gear
3
a
: the rigging of a ship or boat
b
: the harness especially of horses
4
dialectal, chiefly British
: absurd talk : nonsense
5
dialectal, chiefly British
: doings
6
a(1)
: a mechanism that performs a specific function in a complete machine
steering gear
(2)
: a toothed wheel
(3)
: working relation, position, order, or adjustment
got her career in gear
(4)
: a level or pace of functioning
kicked their performance into high gear
b
: one of two or more adjustments of a transmission (as of a bicycle or motor vehicle) that determine mechanical advantage, relative speed, and direction of travel
geared; gearing; gears
1
a
: to provide (machinery) with gearing (see gearing sense 2)
b
: to connect by gearing (see gearing sense 1)
2
a
: to make ready for effective operation
b
: to adjust so as to match, blend with, or satisfy something
gearing wages to productivity
1
a
British, of machinery
: to be in gear : mesh
b
: shift sense 1c
gear down
2
: to become adjusted so as to match, blend, or harmonize
The industry is geared to meet growing consumer demand.
Examples of gear in a Sentence
Noun
I somehow managed to pack all my gear into one suitcase.
soldiers in full combat gear
a complicated arrangement of gears and shafts
a car with four forward gears
Halfway up the hill, my bike slipped out of gear.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The humpback whale population has made a significant comeback since the end of commercial whaling in 1985, NOAA says, but the species still faces threats from fishing gear, vessel strikes, vessel harassment and overall ocean noise.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
Lois Alter Mark, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
However, Universal is known for having relatively more thrill rides for big kids and adults, though its parks also have kid-friendly areas and Universal is building a new theme parkin Texas geared toward young families.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gear
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Noun
With the standard version, a 282-horsepower electric motor drives the rear wheels via a single gear transmission, with 234 miles on a full charge.
—Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
The humpback whale population has made a significant comeback since the end of commercial whaling in 1985, NOAA says, but the species still faces threats from fishing gear, vessel strikes, vessel harassment and overall ocean noise.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
Verb
There’s a calming fireplace and meditation garden as well as a eucalyptus steam room and saltwater whirlpools, all geared toward your tranquility.
—Lois Alter Mark, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
However, Universal is known for having relatively more thrill rides for big kids and adults, though its parks also have kid-friendly areas and Universal is building a new theme parkin Texas geared toward young families.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for gear
Cite this Entry
“Gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gear. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gear
1 of 2 noun1
: equipment sense 2
camping gear
electronic gear
2
a
: a mechanism that performs a specific function in a machine
steering gear
b
: a toothed wheel : cogwheel
3
a
: working order, relation, or adjustment
got her career in gear
b
: one of the adjustments of a transmission (as of a bicycle or motor vehicle) that determine the direction of travel and the relative speed of the engine and the vehicle
gear
2 of 2 verb1
: to provide or connect with gearing
2
: to prepare for operation
gear up for production
3
: to make suitable
a book geared for children
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