reverse gear

noun

: a part (called a gear) that makes a motor move a vehicle in a backward direction
The tractor does not have a reverse gear.
Put the car in/into reverse gear.
sometimes used figuratively
The economy seems to be stuck in reverse gear.

Examples of reverse gear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Interestingly, there's also a reverse gear to facilitate maneuvering the electric scooter and regenerative braking technology that transforms braking effort into electrical energy to help extend battery charge. New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2025 The battery’s state of charge is always sufficient to start the engine and to operate the electric reverse gear. Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024 But a new report issued by the AAA determined that drivers shouldn’t rely 100% on the technology’s effectiveness, and rather maintain a high level of diligence while operating in reverse gear, especially if their cross-traffic visibility is otherwise obscured. Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The electric motor also serves as the V12’s starter, and provides the Revuelto’s reverse function, eliminating the need for a reverse gear in the transmission. Dan Carney, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Reverse gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverse%20gear. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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