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
Clear snow and ice from your vehicle's windows, roof, hood and front and rear lights. —Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 17 Feb. 2026 Parking would be located on the first floor and the two rear lots. —Igor Studenkov, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
The scoot sports periscope-type front suspension, paired with adjustable straight-barrel damping to the rear. —New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026 Whether that's a pat on the back, whether that's a kick in the rear, a different tone, a different message, whatever that might be. —Matt Zahn, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
As 2016 sneaker culture again rears its head, Kniffen believes that Foot Locker, acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods in 2025, stands to gain. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026 The team gathered data from the dummy eggs to anticipate challenges any pair of penguins might face in rearing their own chicks in the habitat. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 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
  • That includes Wolves, whose form has picked up considerably under Rob Edwards — only one win but a series of draws, typified by that dramatic fightback at home to Arsenal on Wednesday — so there’s a temptation to go with form here and back Wolves to get a result.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Open shelving highlights the back wall of the space, maintaining the visual footprint without sacrificing storage.
    — Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of back
Noun
  • And when the game was over, both coaches were eager to remark about the atmosphere and unused seats, Georgetown’s Ed Cooley was curious and UConn’s Dan Hurley exasperated that the crowd wasn’t more raucous on this Valentine’s Night.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Whitney Westerfield boarded his Southwest flight from Tampa to Nashville on Thursday and went to his seat in Row 8.
    — Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of seat
Verb
  • Davis said that many online commenters seemed to object both to tipping and service charges, even as restaurateurs struggle to raise menu prices to keep pace with the soaring costs of food and rent.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Murder-for-hire theories have been raised.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • Some lawmakers view Trump’s order skeptically at best, noting the administration has been removing guardrails, and preventing others from erecting them, to an extreme degree.
    — Darius Tahir, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The state approved a nearly $16 million funding for renovations, which included building temporary housing for staff, erecting recreation fencing to ensure that ICE detainees are separated from state prisoners, buying equipment and desks for ICE offices, and purchasing vans and buses.
    — Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 18 Feb. 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • In 2024, researchers at LNET reported building a nanoscale HV device using silicon nanopillars, in which fluid samples evaporated in the channels created by the spaces between them.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The company plans to build a 500 megawatt data center in Deuel County, but only if the state puts forth a tax exemption.
    — Makenzie Huber, States Newsroom, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of build
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Israel has raised its alert level amid growing indications of a potential joint US-Israel strike on Iran, Israeli sources told CNN.
    — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Support for social media bans for teenagers has reportedly grown across the European Union.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of grow
Noun
  • The insects feed on organic matter and use a tail-like bodies to jump, appearing as dark, pepper-like specs in the snow.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
  • In an era where artistic metrics are splintered between box office, streaming and the long tail of cultural chatter, Merino still believes in the old ritual.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of tail
Verb
  • At the same time, there is a growing recognition that advanced economies might benefit from shifting their focus from merely transmitting information, a task machines increasingly perform well, towards fostering creativity, adaptability, and lifelong learning.
    — José Manuel Barroso, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Traditionally, the cookie program teaches scouts these skills through in-person learning opportunities, and though the season will have significantly less in-person social interaction, Andersson said the Digital Cookie program continues to foster the same kinds of lessons.
    — Talia Mcwright, Chicago Tribune, 16 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 22 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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