plural rears
1
: the part of something that is opposite to or away from the front part : the back part of something
There are two bedrooms at the rear.
—often + ofThe store is in the rear of the building.
We sat toward the rear of the train/boat.
2
informal
: the part of your body that you sit on : buttocks
—usually singular
He slipped and fell on his rear. [=rear end]
always used before a noun
: at or near the back of something
The car's rear bumper was damaged.
We used the rear [=back] entrance of the hotel.
the horse's rear [=hind] legs
the car's rear lights/window
rears; reared; rearing
1
: to take care of (a young person or animal)
His family rears [=raises] cattle.
They reared [=brought up, (chiefly US) raised] their children to be polite and well-mannered.
books on child-rearing
—often + onThe kitten was reared on special food.
He was reared on comic books. [=he read a lot of comic books when he was young]
2
of an animal
: to rise up on the back legs with the front legs in the air
The horse reared (up) in fright.
3
: to rise high in the air
The cliff wall reared (up) above us.
Cite this Entry
“Rear.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/rear. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
