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, in one's rearview mirror and in one's rearview
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
Cite this Entry
“Rearview mirror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rearview%20mirror. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.
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