rent 1 of 2

Definition of rentnext
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

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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

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
Property taxes, mortgages, utilities, insurance premiums, labor and materials have all surged since 2016, much faster than RGB rent adjustments. Ann Korchak, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026 In various communities throughout the metro, neighbors have established online fundraisers to help cover rent for families in need. Conor Wight, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
The apartments will be rented at market rates and mostly be one and two-bedroom units, Wolverine Interests said. Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Mar. 2026 To submit to Sundance, the filmmakers rented a screening room in Eagle Rock’s Vidiots theater for festival programmers, while this reporter watched The Screener’s first three episodes in a private residence. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rent
Noun
  • Afterward, celebrating on the field, Miggy, who is Venezuelan, had tears in his eyes.
    Greg Cote Updated March 17, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
  • And moviegoers are brought to tears.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And that gap means calculations can get weird.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026
  • That gap, between how the law traditionally understands self-defense and how domestic-violence victims experience danger, is one the Survivors’ Act sought to address.
    Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The bill also specifies that the armed volunteers would be able to provide services on any property owned or leased by a religious institution, including property used for education.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026
  • It was then handed over to a property manager and leased as a residence for $6,000 a month, well beyond the reach of most locals.
    Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The city is hiring a consultant to evaluate the impact of removing the bike lanes and proposing potential replacements.
    Larry Seward, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • But New York is passing Silicon Valley for hiring volume, with the metro coming in second overall.
    Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • An hour goes by, and then, through a slit in the curtains, Miley Cyrus flashes a smile and tips her oversize black sunglasses.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Priyanka Chopra looked gorgeous in a white Dior gown with a feather-y trim on the slit skirt.
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Florida overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and dug out of a 12-point hole after intermission on Sunday, but could not close out the Hawkeyes, who will face Nebraska on Thursday in Houston.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
  • The burst of activity came as Earth was hit by a complex wave of solar energy, delivering a one-two punch from multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) alongside a fast stream of solar wind from a coronal hole.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching).
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Over the years, Gecko has teamed up with mining, manufacturing, energy and defense businesses to improve aging equipment and slash repair times.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • And hope for a quick ending to this Iranian situation and the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026
  • Right now, the outlook for Orioles' opening day looks good.
    Gregory Padgett, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rent. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

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