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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
Dual Capture can show your front and rear camera feeds at the same time during FaceTime, while Duo FaceTime lets someone beside you join the call using the outer display. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Door closest to the rear exit door has 2 shelves on each side with dry food stored on each shelf. — Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
The exhaust port blows to the rear to allow for quick cleaning of leaves and grass clippings. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 Lam walked to the rear of his Miami rental home and threw his cellphone from the dock into Biscayne Bay in an attempt to destroy incriminating evidence, prosecutors say. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
Of course, that injury never reared its ugly head in the regular season, and Stafford put up a career-best season in Year 17 and won league MVP honors. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2026 Crags barely visible from the ground reared up above us, and deep crevasses fell away below. — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 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. aft
  8. tail
Adjective
  • While other areas of the team are abundantly stocked with fit and available options to rotate for the two games before that window against Ipswich Town (in the Carabao Cup) and Brighton & Hove Albion, this is not the case in the back line.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Down to reserves at almost every position, the Trojans all but laid down in the back half of its defense.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of back
Noun
  • And all of a sudden, there’s a grumble going on and people will sit back down in their seats and [think about] this fear of growing old.
    — Fred Bronson, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In two South Florida congressional districts, the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board endorses long-time Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and, in an open seat, newcomer Pia Dandiya.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of seat
Verb
  • The volume of the excellent eclectic soundtrack raises the energy level even higher.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The suit says La Strada twice raised concerns with Hoskins, but his Capitol security badge then was deactivated before a hearing in the case and he was fired effective May 1.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • If this is a moment of existential crisis for the DIY festival where a city is erected then burned, that’s of no concern to our guide.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Most notable is the White House State Ballroom, which is currently being erected where the historic East Wing of the White House used to stand.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Kanin Energy has raised up to $100 million in new equity financing to develop, build and operate waste heat-to-power and other on-site power projects across Canada and the US.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Trump also plans to build a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and is eyeing a golf course renovation along the Potomac River.
    — MATTHEW DALY, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of build
Verb
  • The platform decides which content receives additional exposure, and that exposure can influence who discovers a creator and whether the creator’s audience grows.
    — Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Out of that conversation grew my novel The Undead, which is, in some ways, a parting love letter to Moscow.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of grow
Adjective
  • One of Windstar’s signature amenities is the aft marina on each ship, which is deployed when conditions are favorable.
    — Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026
  • This plug protected one of the 59 screws attaching the aft heatshield to the Apollo 8 command module in December 1968.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Definition of aft
Noun
  • One simply went outside through a doggy door, while the other tried to engage the man, walking up to him repeatedly with toys in mouth, tail wagging.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The 2% miss rate that looks like a rounding error to a generalist reads as a five-year tail problem to an operator.
    — Kyle Nakatsuji, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of tail

Phrases Containing rear

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rear
reared
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Cite this Entry

“Rear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rear. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rear

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