gear

1 of 2

noun

ˈgir

Synonyms of gear next

: clothing, garments

: movable property : goods

: equipment, paraphernalia

fishing gear

: the rigging of a ship or boat

: the harness especially of horses

dialectal, chiefly British : absurd talk : nonsense

dialectal, chiefly British : doings

a(1)

: a mechanism that performs a specific function in a complete machine

steering gear

(2)

: a toothed wheel

(3)

: working relation, position, order, or adjustment

got her career in gear

(4)

: a level or pace of functioning

kicked their performance into high gear

: one of two or more adjustments of a transmission (as of a bicycle or motor vehicle) that determine mechanical advantage, relative speed, and direction of travel

gearless

ˈgir-ləs

adjective

gear

2 of 2

verb

geared; gearing; gears

transitive verb

: to provide (machinery) with gearing (see gearing sense 2)

: to connect by gearing (see gearing sense 1)

: to make ready for effective operation

: to adjust so as to match, blend with, or satisfy something

gearing wages to productivity

intransitive verb

British, of machinery : to be in gear : mesh

: shift sense 1c

gear down

: to become adjusted so as to match, blend, or harmonize

The industry is geared to meet growing consumer demand.

Example Sentences

Noun I somehow managed to pack all my gear into one suitcase. soldiers in full combat gear a complicated arrangement of gears and shafts a car with four forward gears Halfway up the hill, my bike slipped out of gear.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Just last year, Ford had to recall 2.9 million vehicles, including roughly 1.7 million 2013-2019 Escape models, due to an issue with the vehicle being unable to shift into the correct gear, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. —

Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2023 Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed the gear was from a fishing area off Nova Scotia, reported missing by the lobsterman as required by Canadian rules. —

Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2023 As the war approaches its first anniversary, that same gear is still easy to find at a range of retailers in Moscow. —

Alistair Macdonald And Kate Vtorygina, WSJ, 14 Feb. 2023 Burton's gear is high-quality, reliable and fashionable. —

Good Housekeeping, 14 Feb. 2023 Snorkeling gear is available to explore the nearby ancient rock formations around Monkey Point. —

Jordi Lippe-mcgraw, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023 Third gear is good to 99 mph, so the Trans Am doesn't want fourth until just after a quarter-mile of pavement has been inhaled. —

Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2023 Their gear is durable, reliable, eco-friendly, and looks great, too. —

Mike Richard, Men's Health, 17 Jan. 2023 Another gear essential to pack is a compact shovel for underground edibles like wild potatoes, leeks and burdock root. —

Mallory Arnold, Outside Online, 11 Jan. 2023

Verb

These reactions, which also occurred in the fed mice but not in the fasted mice, suggest that the sight and smell of food alone is enough to trigger POMC neurons in the brain and gear the liver up for calories, nutrients and satiation. —

Amber Jorgenson, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2018 Porsche's quick-acting eight-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes for both drivetrains. —

Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 4 Feb. 2023 Nestled between a mountain and river, the all-inclusive provides ski-in and ski-out access to the slopes and delivers gear to your on-site snow locker. —

Karen Cicero, Good Housekeeping, 1 Feb. 2023 Two thick straps wrap the bag to cinch gear down tightly, and the zippers are lockable for safety. —

Katie Kommer, Popular Mechanics, 23 Jan. 2023 The best workout clothes and gear on the market combine technical specs with a nod to fashionable aesthetics. —

Ebenezer Samuel, Men's Health, 16 Jan. 2023 Either way, the fabric should be tough enough to protect the workout clothes and gear within. —

Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 7 Nov. 2022 As with most outdoor kids gear, your results may vary, but my experiences with the Shotgun Child Seat + Handlebars thus far have been extremely positive. —

Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 20 Dec. 2022 There is also a garage aft near the sunbed that can house water toys, gear and even a small dinghy. —

Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gear.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gǫrvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment, clothing, gearu ready — more at yare

Verb

derivative of gear entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1851, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of gear was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gear. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

gear

1 of 2 noun

ˈgi(ə)r

: equipment sense 2

camping gear

electronic gear

: a mechanism that performs a specific function in a machine

steering gear

: a toothed wheel : cogwheel

: working order, relation, or adjustment

got her career in gear

: one of the adjustments of a transmission (as of a bicycle or motor vehicle) that determine the direction of travel and the relative speed of the engine and the vehicle

gearless

-ləs

adjective

gear

2 of 2 verb

: to provide or connect with gearing

: to prepare for operation

gear up for production

: to make suitable

a book geared for children