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
Westfalia rates the van a four-berth camper van when equipped with the optional convertible bed, and while that front bed is a little small, the rear bed is oversized enough that young families should be able to accommodate everyone. — New Atlas, 15 July 2026 Once again, the fastback Coupe becomes the more-fashionable choice, while trading nearly 20 percent of the standard model’s rear cargo space and a touch of rear headroom. — Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 15 July 2026
Noun
On-site parking for 25 vehicles is planned at the rear of the building, accessible from a public alley. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 According to dealership websites and the manufacturer, 2024 Chevrolet Suburbans are all equipped with collision sensors, including ones that are in the rear and are meant to alert the drivers if objects, including pedestrians, are present. — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
Verb
When there’s no offspring to rear, the male and female cardinal defend their territory together. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 8 July 2026 Voting inertia rears its head for The Bear’s largely forgettable fourth season. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 July 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
  • The defending champions made Kansas City their base camp for the tournament as the team began its quest to become back to back champions for the first time since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
    — PJ Green July 13, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • With the back tyre in the water, grab the front brake and stand up off the bike.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2026
Definition of back
Noun
  • The audience giggled nervously as their seats rocked and rolled during the tense chase scene, and whenever the dinosaur went in for an attack, a squirt of water shot out from behind each audience member’s seat.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 19 July 2026
  • Each business-class, lie-flat seat can bring in close to $10,000 on some long-haul international routes compared with $2,000 or even much less for a seat in the back.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 19 July 2026
Definition of seat
Verb
  • Having one copy of the APOE4 variant may double or triple the chance of developing Alzheimer’s, while having two copies may raise risk by tenfold or more.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • The Digital Realty proposal is the first project vying to get an exemption from Atlanta’s ban, raising questions about balancing urban land use and digital infrastructure.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • Atsushi Matono is responsible for erecting the shingi, a sacred tree placed at the top of one of the floats —the holiest part of the structure, to which a deity is believed to descend.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • New this year will be an enormous 20-foot tipi, as well as a demonstration area revealing the process of erecting tipi’s step-by-step.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Officials said the warning systems built since last year’s catastrophic floods were activated in Kerr County in the early hours before water levels began to rise, allowing for people to react quickly to flooding threats.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Across the nation, some communities have had more blackouts after large data centers move in, and higher power bills as utilities have to build more infrastructure to support them.
    — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Definition of build
Verb
  • Calls for police in Wilmington, Delaware, to release body cam footage from the officer who shot and killed Kadir Skinner in June are growing.
    — CBS News Philadelphia Staff, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Former patrons of the bar and other mourners visited the site Tuesday, adding to the growing pile of flowers leaning on the guardrails cordoning off the location of the blaze.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of grow
Adjective
  • 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
  • Another highlight is the aft cockpit, which is equipped with two swing-down side terraces that open to increase the deck space to 398 square feet.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 July 2026
Definition of aft
Noun
  • After waiting for Odysseus to return, the dog wagged its tail and died.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • The species features mainly black fur, cape-like shoulders and a long tail, per Florida Atlantic University’s release.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of tail

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 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on rear

Nglish: Translation of rear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rear

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