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

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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

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
Part of Mamdani’s appeal to those who voted for the democratic socialist in June beyond the folks who were sold on his pledges of free buses and free child care and rent freezes was his authenticity. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025 In the hair industry, prices typically rise every year as the cost of materials, rent and services go up, said Cooper. Ana Teresa Solá,kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
Many landlords refused to rent to those returning from the camps, compounding a postwar housing shortage with discrimination. Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025 Customers can purchase or rent a selection of media titles from Prime Video without having an Amazon Prime or Prime Video account. Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rent
Noun
  • Unfortunately, the tennis player was forced to withdraw from the rest of the tournament after struggling with an abdominal tear.
    Jolene Latimer, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Wet Brush Pro Detangler Hair Brush Remember being eight years old, with tears in your eyes as your mom tore through your tangles after bath time?
    Annie Blackman, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Frank often asks one of his centre-backs to push ahead of the other, which could leave gaps for top opposition to exploit, but Spurs have the athleticism to make up for it in Romero, Van de Ven, and Kevin Danso.
    Elias Burke, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
  • This project will fill a care gap of more than 40 miles between Novant’s hospitals in Rowan and Mecklenburg counties.
    Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • BlackRock is leading a $11 billion deal to lease and rent back natural gas processing facilities from Saudi Aramco, in a boon to Riyadh’s ambitions to attract more foreign investment.
    Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Since then, the motel has sat unused even as the city’s new mayor, Mike Johnston, bought or leased other hotels around the city and quickly moved in people living on the streets.
    Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The company hired Ballard, and Carnival’s chairman, Micky Arison, secured the highest-possible-level meeting: with the national-security adviser, John Bolton; the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo; and Trump.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
  • But then Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell hired Flores in 2023.
    Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Ciara at 39 brings unapologetic glamour with body-conscious fits and daring slits.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Gomez posed in soft pink satin lingerie with lace detailing and a thigh-high slit.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • One Netherlands international, according to the police, allowed his Porsche to be used by criminals and the car ended up riddled with bullet holes.
    Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Gordon, hitting holes hard with his physical running style, sparked the run game in the second half.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • These disasters raised questions about the capacities of NOAA and its National Weather Service, which have been dealing with existential budget cuts and staffing slashes under the Trump administration.
    Colleen Hagerty, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2025
  • Soto has a triple slash of .264/.391/.573 with 11 homers and 24 RBIs since June 13, a span in which Nimmo is slashing .300/.370/.475 with five homers and 18 RBIs.
    Jerry Beach, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • Yet, relative underinvestment in open-source AI and critical infrastructure, driven by fear and by a search for short-term profits, has created an opening for others to set standards, shape ecosystems and define the direction of future technologies.
    Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Milwaukee Public Schools has job openings year-round for a range of skillsets.
    Chesnie Wardell, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rent. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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