gear

noun \ ˈgir \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: gear in a Sentence

Definition of gear

1 a : clothing, garments

b : movable property : goods

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

—

gearless

play \-ləs\ adjective

See gear defined for English-language learners

See gear defined for kids

Examples of gear in a Sentence

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 of gear from the Web

Check your pets and outdoor gear for ticks after bringing them inside, too.

— kate sheridan, SELF, "Here’s Exactly What to Do if a Tick Bites You," 14 July 2018
To shop for a bargain on Apple gear, scroll to the bottom of a page on the Apple website and click the Refurbished and Clearance link.

— bob levitus, Houston Chronicle, "Pay less for your next Apple product," 13 July 2018
One team equipment manager says his club paid $6,100 for game uniforms and roughly $5,000 on player practice gear.

— jake fischer, SI.com, "The Economics of a Las Vegas Summer League Invite," 12 July 2018
With Bieber currently doubling down on sports gear and Baldwin keeping her fashion paparazzi-ready, the pair have displayed a curious mix of high and low during their recent outings.

— janelle okwodu, Vogue, "Hailey Baldwin and Justin Bieber Take Couples Style to the Next Level in Versace," 6 July 2018
The website for national outdoor-gear retailer Cabela’s Inc. features a section devoted to AR-15 parts and accessories, listing more than 190 items.

— Fortune, "Why Gunmakers Would Rather Sell AR-15s Than Handguns," 20 June 2018
The new homes include handmade cabinets, crown molding and closets with shoe racks providing ample room for year-round outdoor gear/clothing.

— david caraccio, sacbee, "New luxury homes under Heavenly Mountain Resort's gondola just went on the market," 7 June 2018
Small jig/plastic combinations, crankbaits and in-line spinners fished on ultra-light spinning gear will draw redbreast strikes.

— shannon tompkins staff writer, San Antonio Express-News, "June spawn signals peak in Texas sunfish action," 7 June 2018
Stepping in for the injured starter, Lopez has quietly guided Padres pitchers to a 2.99 ERA during his 144-plus innings behind the plate, the lowest among the three catchers who’ve strapped on San Diego gear this year.

— jeff sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "With Padres, Raffy Lopez continuing to catch on," 30 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gear.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of gear

Origin and Etymology of gear

Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gǫrvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment, clothing, gearu ready — more at yare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

gear Synonyms

Synonyms

apparel, attire, clothes, clothing, dress, duds, garments, rags, raiment, rig, rigging, threads, toggery, togs, vestments, vesture, wear, wearables, weeds;

Related Words

wardrobe;

array, bravery, caparison, finery, gaiety (also gayety), glad rags, pretties, regalia, trim;

foofaraw, frippery;

tatters;

costume, ensemble, frock, garb, getup, guise, livery, outfit;

civvies (also civies), mufti;

couture, ready-to-wear, tailoring;

activewear, loungewear, outerwear, playwear, sportswear;

nightclothes, sleepwear, smallclothes, underclothes, underwear;

haberdashery, menswear;

gear

verb

Definition of gear

geared; gearing; gears

transitive verb

1 a : to provide (machinery) with gearing (see gearing 2)

b : to connect by gearing (see gearing 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

intransitive verb

1 a British, of machinery : to be in gear : mesh

b : shift 1c

gear down

2 : to become adjusted so as to match, blend, or harmonize

The industry is geared to meet growing consumer demand.

See gear defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of gear from the Web

It is geared for high school juniors and seniors and their parents.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "Naperville News Digest," 13 July 2018
New program geared toward children who have sensory issues Didn't get a Build-A-Bear on Thursday? Chuck E. Cheese wants to help.

— mallorie sullivan, Cincinnati.com, "Chuck E. Cheese's offering 'Pay Your Age Day' deal after Build-A-Bear chaos," 13 July 2018
They are geared for people with incomes between $31,920 and $52,920 a year.

— steve sadin, chicagotribune.com, "Zion Woods affordable housing development back on the docket in Deerfield," 25 June 2018
This was the first year programs specifically geared to 14-18 year olds were presented.

— staff report, The Aegis, "Harford holds annual drug prevention and treament symposium," 21 June 2018
It really wasn't geared toward providing access to medical cannabis for those who need it.

— tessa weinberg, kansascity, "Missouri lawmakers let medical marijuana die in last days of session. Next up: voters | The Kansas City Star," 18 May 2018
It is geared to generate needed dollars to finish the more than decade-long flood control project, which includes buying needed land, rechanneling 1.5 miles of the Trinity River and building needed water storage areas and flood gates.

— anna m. tinsley, star-telegram, "Voters OK plan to spend $250 million in bonds on Panther Island | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 5 May 2018
They are all geared, in one way or another, toward constructing a market that efficiently and accurately values the different characteristics of energy storage.

— david roberts, Vox, "Batteries have a dirty secret," 27 Apr. 2018
It is geared toward girls ages 9-14 and includes topics such as attitude/behavior, etiquette and image.

— sue ellen ross, Post-Tribune, "Youth organizations help bolster kids' self-confidence," 9 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of gear

derivative of ¹gear

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1851

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

GEAR Defined for English Language Learners

gear

noun

Definition of gear for English Language Learners

: supplies, tools, or clothes needed for a special purpose
: a toothed wheel in a machine
: a part that connects the engine of a vehicle or the pedals of a bicycle to the wheels and controls the speed at which the wheels turn

gear

verb

Definition of gear for English Language Learners

: to make (something) suitable for a particular use or type of person

GEAR Defined for Kids

gear

noun \ ˈgir \

Definition of gear for Students

1 : equipment

camping gear

2 : a group of parts that has a specific function in a machine

steering gear

3 : a toothed wheel : cogwheel

4 : the position the gears of a machine are in when they are ready to work

in gear

5 : one of the adjustments in a motor vehicle that determine the direction of travel and the relative speed between the engine and the motion of the vehicle