rent 1 of 2

1
as in tear
a long deep cut getting her skirt caught on a nail resulted in a four-inch rent that she couldn't possibly repair

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2

rent

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to lease
to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment we rented the apartment to a college student for $500 a month

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to hire
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum will need to rent a car while we're in Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rent different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rent are charter, hire, lease, and let. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
will not rent to families with children

Where would charter be a reasonable alternative to rent?

The words charter and rent can be used in similar contexts, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

How are the words hire and let related as synonyms of rent?

Both hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer
decided to let the cottage to a young couple

When would lease be a good substitute for rent?

The meanings of lease and rent largely overlap; however, lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

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 rent
Noun
In 2023, Wu advanced a proposal to cap annual rent increases for most units that was blocked by the state Legislature. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025 In Haiti, rent is for a year or a minimum of six months. Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Of that, 58,000 went to rent—for a cheap apartment that didn’t get much light—which only left her with 82,000 a month to live on. Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025 The 38-year-old, originally from Michigan, has rented the apartment for the past eight months. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rent
Noun
  • Small yellow dots trickle down the figure’s cheek, evoking tears.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Winn, a candidate for the National League Gold Glove at shortstop, played through a meniscus tear for weeks and will undergo arthroscopic surgery in the early offseason.
    Katie Woo, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Companies are increasingly stepping into roles traditionally held by colleges, universities, and trade schools, creating their own certification programs to address skill gaps that formal education hasn't filled.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Frustrations have been mounting among young people in Nepal over the country's unemployment and wealth gap.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • An avid outdoorsman, Alexander was hosting fishing camps in the area when a park superintendent offered to lease him an existing homestead inside the park.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025
  • In 2023, Kmart leased out the majority of its space in Kendale Lakes to At Home, keeping a small corner for what was once one of the largest retail chains in the nation.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Masino was hired at Cracker Barrel in 2023 after holding top positions at Taco Bell and Starbucks’ smaller international divisions and as CEO of Sprinkles Cupcakes.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Executives and entrepreneurs have been for some time finding that other states offer better opportunities (but government managers in California have been hiring, which does more harm to the private sector more than good).
    Kerry Jackson, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The frock featured a soft, angular neckline along with a thigh-high slit and large bow.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The slit lamp is a specialized microscope with a bright light that creates a thin, intense beam to illuminate the eye.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • On the 18th hole of the final match, Nicklaus sank his par putt and then conceded Tony Jacklin’s short par putt, ensuring both the match and the Ryder Cup ended in a tie.
    Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • My only shot was through a hole the size of a business card between some limbs.
    Jack Atcheson Sr. as told to Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Included among these cuts would be a 19% slash to the CDC budget.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Growth in the number of new indoor resorts had the biggest percentage increase, with six opening in the last year, bringing the country’s total to 66 -- more than double the 31 indoor resorts that China had in 2020.
    Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Trim trees and install storm shutters, accordion shutters and impact glass; seal outside wall openings.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rent. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!