rear 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrir How to pronounce rear (audio)
Definition of rearnext
as in back
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part go to the back of the building and look out the rear window and you'll see the eagle

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rear

2 of 3

noun

ˈrir How to pronounce rear (audio)
1
as in tail
a behind part or surface the rear of the car was sleekly designed

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2
as in seat
the part of the body upon which someone sits fell off her skates onto her rear

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rear

3 of 3

verb

ˈrir How to pronounce rear (audio)
1
as in to raise
to bring to maturity through care and education watched a documentary on how wolves rear their young

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2
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position it took all the men in the village to rear the frame for the barn, pulling hard at the ropes until all the sides were standing

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3
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials the city has plans for rearing a new convention center over the next two years

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4
as in to grow
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care an amateur who rears rare orchids in a professional-grade greenhouse

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rear contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rear are boost, elevate, heave, hoist, lift, and raise. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

When could boost be used to replace rear?

While the synonyms boost and rear are close in meaning, boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for rear?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

In what contexts can heave take the place of rear?

Although the words heave and rear have much in common, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When can hoist be used instead of rear?

While in some cases nearly identical to rear, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

When might lift be a better fit than rear?

The words lift and rear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

When is raise a more appropriate choice than rear?

The words raise and rear can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rear
Adjective
In 2019, club members suspected Stellato of $20,000 worth of embezzlement and relieved him of his rear commodore position, according to court records. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026 On your Honda, the front and rear toe-in and front camber are adjustable. —John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
With Brazilian defensive midfielder Igor Jesus’ recovery from knee surgery expected to linger past this summer’s FIFA World Cup, the Los Angeles Football Club has moved to cover its rear. —Josh Gross, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026 A couple of hours after the crash, fire trucks and police vehicles mostly blocked the view of the store from the street, but bystanders could see the rear of the silver car, still inside the bakery. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
Anderson got his hand on the ball when Maye reared back to throw. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026 Winter weather in Arkansas is finally expected to rear its head. —Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rear
  1. back
  2. seat
  3. raise
  4. erect
  5. build
  6. grow
  7. tail
  8. foster
Adjective
  • The Bulls held Huerter out of Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat because of back spasms.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Raw meat was stored above the vegetables in the freezer, some employee food was stored with the establishment’s food and the back storage area needed to be cleaned.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of back
Noun
  • Before sunrise, dozens of people were in line outside the court building to secure a seat in the courtroom.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • One of the city’s star attractions is the huge 25,000-seat Great Theater, used for theatrical performances, public assemblies, religious ceremonies and, in the Roman era, gladiatorial battles.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of seat
Verb
  • The health care company also raised its forecast range for profit this fiscal year.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • In the wake of Bad Bunny's halftime show selection in September, many critics raised concerns about a potential language barrier for English-language viewers.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • This approach still erects a financial barrier for the hundreds of thousands of San Diego County residents who have supported Balboa Park institutions for generations.
    — Judy Gradwohl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Emergency-response teams quickly erected two tent camps in the neighborhood, giving local residents a place to warm up and charge their phones.
    — Michael Holtz, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Engineers built the platform to scale across mission profiles.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Importantly, it was built to work no matter the weather, wind, or altitude the torch would encounter on its over 7,000-mile-long journey from Olympia, Greece to Milan, Italy.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of build
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the bloom of illicit pot grows on private land has been demanding California’s attention, a growing problem since voters legalized cannabis in 2016.
    — Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
  • With increasing production complexity and a growing shortage of skilled labor, the Group views Physical AI systems as a robust solution to address gaps in both areas.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2026
Definition of grow
Noun
  • Langmuir showed that the molecules oriented themselves in a consistent way, looking like little tadpoles with the hydrophilic head, the end that likes water, toward the water, and the hydrophobic tail, the end that dislikes water, sticking up into the air.
    — Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
    — Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of tail
Verb
  • The platform fosters a space for community energy and excitement, coupled with intellectual drive.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
  • This support was both rhetorical and strategic, fostering security partnerships that would later pave the way for collaboration on framing criminal threats.
    — Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of foster

Phrases Containing rear

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reaps
rear
reared
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Cite this Entry

“Rear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rear. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rear

Nglish: Translation of rear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rear

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