rearview mirror

noun

rear·​view mirror ˈrir-ˌvyü- 

variants or rearview

plural rearview mirrors or rearviews

1

: a mirror (as in an automobile) that gives the driver a view of the area behind a vehicle

The air fresheners that dangle from rearview mirrors have been a ubiquitous accessory in cars for decades.

—Mike Baker and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

Another car's headlights appeared in her rearview—the first she'd seen since … turning onto Route 60.

—Erin Brockovich and C. J. Lyons

2

: past entry 3

—used in phrases like in the rearview mirror and in one's rearview mirror

With the midterm elections barely in the rearview mirror, the competition is heating up among states trying to move up in the presidential primary lineup.

—Alex Seitz-Wald and Natasha Korecki

Siakam was coming off shoulder surgery as well. … But Siakam put all that in his rearview mirror and never looked back, finishing with career highs in rebounds and assists …

—Mike Ganter

After Zayn Malik abruptly departed from One Direction in 2015, he largely left the band in his rearview.

—Larisha Paul

… [rappers] Killer Mike and El-P, both of whom had left rap's zeitgeist in their rearviews long ago …

—Tom Breihan

Examples of rearview mirror in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With the 97th Oscars now seven weeks in the rearview mirror, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is turning its attention to 98th Oscars, which will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026. —Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2025

With the 2015 vintage barely in the rearview mirror, the majority of the 2018s are headed to wine lists and store shelves with little fanfare, but Veuve Clicquot’s bold move alerted international journalists and sommeliers to the presence of this stunning vintage. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2025

With the Eras tour in the rearview mirror, many Swifties are wondering what’s next for Taylor Swift. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2025

The coming stimulus will be to offset the effects of U.S. tariffs versus looking in the rearview mirror. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rearview mirror

• clearer
• dearer
• hearer
• nearer
• shearer

Kids Definition

rearview mirror

noun

rear·​view mirror ˌri(ə)r-ˌvyü- 

: a mirror (as in a car) that gives a view to the rear