rear 1 of 3

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rear

2 of 3

noun

rear

3 of 3

verb

1
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fire on the rear side of a multi-family building at 661 Washington Street was reported by a passerby at 4:39 p.m., according to state fire officials. Todd Prussman, Boston Herald, 18 June 2025 For privacy, a smart glass partition between the driver and rear passengers can shift from transparent to opaque with just a touch. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
For example, all townhouses have garages in the rear instead of some having them in the front, and slight changes were made to building setbacks. R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025 Infinite Machine Stopping power is provided by hydraulic disc brakes on both 12-inch wheels, while rough roads are smoothed out by 60 mm of suspension travel in front and 21 mm in the rear. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 12 June 2025
Verb
On his final attempt of the Super Bowl, Mahomes reared back and let loose a 50-yard touchdown strike to rookie Xavier Worthy, a score that cut the margin to 18 points with less than two minutes to play. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2025 The story of a two twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) returning to their home in the American south in 1932 takes some crazy twists and turns as twin versions of evil rear their ugly heads. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rear
Adjective
  • The firm provides outsourced customer care and back office services to large enterprises, which investors believe will be displaced by generative AI being deployed directly by its customers.
    Ganesh Rao,Jenni Reid,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 19 June 2025
  • In the back garden, for example, there’s a shady grove with hammocks and low seating that is one of the couple’s favorite places to enjoy quiet moments.
    Katia Contreras, Architectural Digest, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Why the Kia Sorento Hybrid is a great road trip vehicle The Sorento Hybrid has 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space and 45 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear row of seats folded.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 June 2025
  • Their seats were next to each other in the Petco Park press box.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • That superyacht, by the by, threw some 7,000 tons of carbon into the atmosphere last year, which exacerbates global warming, which raises the seas, which lap at the shoreline, which is why porcelain thrones on manmade islands are a clear and present danger.
    Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025
  • Another raises the question of subsidence, which relates to the caving in or sinking of land.
    Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • Cardew, who was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s prestigious Gold Medal in 2012, designed the house in 1980, two years after his post-modern complex 1500 West Georgia in Vancouver was erected and six years before his steel framework design at CN Pavilion was completed.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 June 2025
  • Everyone sat still, watching the barren landscape outside the window strewn with orange flames leaping from the scaffoldings erected over the oil wells.
    Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, a 1,000-megawatt facility built by Russia, has also been a focus of recent concern, Di Fulvio said.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 June 2025
  • The spacecraft, built by Maxar Space Systems, will operate its electric thrusters for the equivalent of three months between now and November to keep the mission on track for arrival at asteroid Psyche in 2029.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • The clock is ticking down on Trump's 90-day pause on those tariffs — but institutional investors are actually growing more enthusiastic about emerging markets, according to Bank of America's most recent Fund Manager Survey.
    Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 19 June 2025
  • How to get involved Liz Ceballos, a retail manager with decades of experience, helps Capsule vendors grow their businesses and become part of the community of Miami entrepreneurs.
    Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Joby has reached a significant certification milestone by completing its first FAA-conforming major sub-assembly, specifically the aircraft tail.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
  • Female cats will go into heat about every three to five weeks during warm weather, showing recognizable behaviors such as making vocal sounds, moving the tail to the side or rubbing up against inanimate objects.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Moreover, narcissistic parents often foster competition and sibling rivalry, or even compete with their children’s romantic partners.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • The Trump administration’s attacks on historic policies fostering diversity, equity and inclusion have many people on edge.
    Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rear. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

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