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
The truck entered the home up to its rear axle before coming to a stop. —Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025 The suspects allegedly forced their way into the rear door of the home before being seen on camera getting into a blue Hyundai Elantra and taking off. —Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
The teen suffered a laceration to the rear of his head. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025 They can be used as rear-facing or front-facing while some can be used as booster seats. —Keenan Thompson, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
In exchange for insider intel, Perfidia was offered witness protection, but fled for Mexico and hasn’t reared her head since. —Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Sep. 2025 If the team is reeling and injuries are rearing their ugly head once again, leading to a disappointing record, then there’s a chance because only a select player or two are untouchable. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025 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
  • Los Angeles was also without starting center Deandre Ayton for the second half of the win due to a back spasm issue.
    — Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Davis is alleged to have dragged Rossel through a stairwell, kitchen and back exit before assaulting her in a parking garage.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Definition of back
Noun
  • The margin will narrow by one seat once the government reopens and the winner of a special election, Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, is sworn in.
    — Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Democrats also performed well in one red state election, flipping two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission.
    — Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of seat
Verb
  • Trump’s lack of specifics on his new 10% Canada tariff raised key questions for Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Owsley Brown Frazier, a fourth-generation descendant of George Garvin Brown, alone raised more than $500 million in his lifetime.
    — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
Definition of raise
Verb
  • The tent was a remnant of the structures erected by the United Nations High Command for Refugees to provide shade for migrants, Dumasá said.
    — Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The end of a building erected in the 1940s?
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • In August, The Guardian said the Israeli Defense Forces' Unit 8200 had built a system in Microsoft's Azure cloud for tracking Palestinians' phone calls as part of the country's invasion of Gaza, leading Microsoft to investigate the newspaper's assertions.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • To build workplaces that are not just more efficient, but more human.
    — Kelly Jones, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • Morelli turned to the drug as a result of his growing addiction to OxyContin, which he had been prescribed following back surgery, wrote Joslin.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Hunter has set himself a very fine amount of emotional and physical space within which to work, and there’s pleasure in watching Metcalf and Stock negotiate the tiptoeing way Sarah and Ethan grow closer.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of grow
Noun
  • On nights when Nova’s feeling sleepy, Poppy happily entertains herself with her mountain of toys — or by spinning in happy circles to reclaim that elusive tail.
    — Evan Moore November 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The bottle opener is roughly hand sized, with the tail acting as the cap lifter.
    — Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Definition of tail
Verb
  • The Empath fosters psychological safety, inclusive dialogue and a culture of empathy.
    — Kelly Jones, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Even here, though, the focus of most of Biden’s efforts at fostering economic cooperation was regional, not global.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
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 6 Nov. 2025.

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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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