Synonyms of rear

rear 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrir 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• back
• hind
• aft
• posterior
• dorsal
• hinder
• rearward
• after
• hindmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• front
• anterior
• frontal
• forward
• fore
• ventral

rear

2 of 3

noun

ˈrir 

1

as in tail

a behind part or surface

the rear of the car was sleekly designed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• back
• tail
• reverse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• front
• face
• forehead
• forepart

2

as in seat

the part of the body upon which someone sits

fell off her skates onto her rear

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seat
• tail
• cheeks
• bum
• rump
• bottom
• behind
• backside
• posterior
• buttocks
• rear end
• butt
• caboose
• buns
• haunches
• tail end
• beam
• fanny
• breech
• booty
• fundament
• duff
• hams
• nates
• derriere
• stern
• tush
• can
• heinie
• hunkers
• keister
• moon

rear

3 of 3

verb

ˈrir 

1

as in to raise

to bring to maturity through care and education

watched a documentary on how wolves rear their young

Synonyms & Similar Words

• raise
• foster
• breed
• bring up
• mother
• nurture
• cradle
• promote
• nurse
• teach
• feed
• watch
• educate
• minister (to)
• nourish
• cultivate
• forward
• school
• supply
• father
• train
• provide (for)
• care (for)
• lead
• attend
• mind
• further
• mentor
• discipline
• instruct
• direct
• guide
• show
• enlighten
• prepare
• edify
• advance
• indoctrinate
• tutor
• shepherd

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abuse
• maltreat
• ignore
• mistreat
• neglect
• hurt
• injure
• harm
• ill-use
• ill-treat
• mishandle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• erect
• raise
• lift
• hoist
• pitch
• set up
• brace
• put up
• support
• buttress
• elevate
• upraise
• upend
• up
• shore (up)
• crane
• uplift
• prop (up)
• hike
• uphold
• heighten
• boost
• heave
• heft
• jack (up)
• pick up
• perk (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• level
• flatten
• tear down
• demolish
• knock down
• raze

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• build
• construct
• assemble
• make
• erect
• create
• found
• make up
• design
• piece
• manufacture
• fabricate
• put together
• set up
• raise
• establish
• produce
• frame
• put up
• shape
• rebuild
• confect
• mold
• coin
• carpenter
• fashion
• hammer
• generate
• originate
• retrofit
• organize
• institute
• forge
• father
• initiate
• begin
• prefabricate
• constitute
• inaugurate
• reconstruct
• devise
• innovate
• invent
• reassemble
• think (up)
• reedify
• imagine
• cook (up)
• rig (up)
• conceive
• concoct
• redevelop
• contrive
• throw up
• handcraft
• combine
• unite
• jerry-build

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strike
• destroy
• take down
• tear down
• dismantle
• ruin
• disassemble
• knock down
• wreck
• level
• flatten
• pull down
• smash
• dismember
• demolish
• shatter
• raze
• explode
• pulverize
• devastate
• demount
• blow up
• detach
• separate
• disengage
• ruinate
• divide
• disconnect
• disunite
• disjoin

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grow
• cultivate
• plant
• produce
• raise
• culture
• promote
• harvest
• tend
• crop
• dress
• breed
• propagate
• sow
• reap
• gather
• root
• sprout
• ripen
• glean
• quicken
• germinate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kill
• pull (up)
• pick
• dig
• cut
• hay
• pluck
• extirpate
• uproot
• mow

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

Recent Examples of rear

Adjective

Both models have 32 independent elements in the front and rear light bar. — Chad Kirchner, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026

Just as before, the three rear USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 5 connections, paired with an HDMI output and the configurable Ethernet jack. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026

Noun

Salesforce is bringing up the rear for the portfolio, down about 2%. — Alexa Lomonaco,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants ride in rear-facing car seats. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

The project reopened critical spawning and rearing habitat for river herring, American eel and sea lamprey. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026

Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock rear a new crop of witches played by Joey King and Maisie Williams — what could go wrong? — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing rear

• rear end