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
Above a gargantuan television hung on the rear wall, a disco ball levitated inside a regulation-size hoop. — Jane Bua, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026 When a motorist is caught traveling at such speeds, a camera captures an image of the vehicle’s rear license plate and automatically generates a citation for review and processing. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
Biddy covered most of the journey on foot—the equivalent of about six million steps—herding animals at the rear of her owner’s wagon company and choking her way through a moving screen of dust kicked up by the migrant caravan. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 In 2022, the paparazzi leaked photos of the two holding hands, nestled into each other at a New York bar, and Holmes patting Robach on the rear. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
As climate change continues to rear its ugly head, this summer has been particularly brutal for much of the planet. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026 Once Olive reveals what happened to Anh, her friend’s protective nature rears its head, determined to turn around Olive’s despair. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 23 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
  • For rock climbers, there’s Shawangunk Ridge; for hikers there’s Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park; and for the trail runner there’s the 22-mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail just beyond the hotel’s back door.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The back frizz is more confined, enclosed in the semi-neat bun.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of back
Noun
  • The dining room has 28 seats, a private event space holds 10, and the menu proposes just three Milanese and Lombardian dishes for each of the antipasti, primi, and secondi courses (four for dessert).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • After most of the sellout crowd filed out Wednesday, one solitary Sox fan stood at his seat under the press box, shouting obscenities about the Guardians and the city of Cleveland.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of seat
Verb
  • Hackers raised the temperature of refrigerators and freezers, sparking fires and causing food to spoil.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 13 Oct. 2026
  • People find collaborators over drinks, and someone reluctant to raise a hand in an auditorium might ask a question after a little social lubrication.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • Capping them all is JPMorgan’s proposal to erect a £3 billion, 265-meter tower that will be London’s largest office building if its plans are approved.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Water from a massive swell — double the size that was initially predicted — blasted through 20-foot berms erected at the Wedge and washed out roads from about 21st Street to 6th Street, officials said.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • The Biden administration built it back and set a goal of admitting 125,000 refugees during the final year of his term.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Deppert built seats in a barn to accommodate about 100 people and sold tickets for less than the Wolverines charged for entry into Recreation Park.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of build
Verb
  • Its minimalist aesthetic and discreet approach to luxury perfectly capture the growing desire for versatile bags that transition effortlessly from day to evening.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • There’s the ever-growing collection of vinyl and books overflowing from the lobby lounge’s shelves.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of grow
Adjective
  • The Lake of Dreams show still feels like an oddly charming fever dream—projections, puppetry, and music best experienced from SW, Lakeside, or the aft-deck fantasy bar literally called Aft.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The aft end of Nova’s second stage is designed with a heat shield to protect the vehicle during reentry through Earth’s atmosphere.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of aft
Noun
  • Tuck drumstick ends under band of skin across the tail if present or tie drumsticks securely to tail using 100%- cotton kitchen string.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2026
  • My barometer will always be whether the AI is the tail that’s wagging the dog.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Oct. 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 16 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rear

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