plural gears
1
a
: supplies, tools, or clothes needed for a special purpose
fishing gear
I somehow managed to pack all my gear into one suitcase.
soldiers in full combat gear
wearing protective gear
rain gear [=waterproof clothes worn in the rain]
b
informal
: clothes
She wears trendy gear.
2
a
: a toothed wheel in a machine
a complicated arrangement of gears and shafts
b
: 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
a car with four forward gears
Halfway up the hill, my bike slipped out of gear.
He put the car in/into gear [=he moved the lever that controls the car's gears into the position that allows the car to begin moving] and drove away.
(US) She shifted into low/high gear. = (Brit) She changed into bottom/top gear. [=she changed to a gear that allows for a slower/faster rate of speed]
gears; geared; gearing
: to make (something) suitable for a particular use or type of person
—usually used as (be) geared
The book is geared toward children. [=the book is intended to be used by children]
software geared to the needs of the first-time user
The program is geared for/to/toward a young audience.
The system is geared [=designed] to handle several tasks at once.
Cite this Entry
“Gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/gear. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
