Illustration of gear
- G gear 6a(2)
2
: equipment, paraphernalia
fishing gear
3
a
: the rigging of a ship or boat
b
: the harness especially of horses
4
dialectal, chiefly British
: absurd talk : nonsense
5
dialectal, chiefly British
: doings
6
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
b
: 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
geared; gearing; gears
1
a
: to provide (machinery) with gearing (see gearing sense 2)
b
: to connect by gearing (see gearing sense 1)
2
a
: to make ready for effective operation
b
: to adjust so as to match, blend with, or satisfy something
gearing wages to productivity
1
a
British, of machinery
: to be in gear : mesh
b
: shift sense 1c
gear down
2
: to become adjusted so as to match, blend, or harmonize
The industry is geared to meet growing consumer demand.
Examples of gear in a Sentence
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
Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
However, Sting seems content, noting that 2025 will be his final year of doing conventions in his full gear, signaling the true end of an era.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Many saw their installation as more of being revenue producers than geared toward safety considerations.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gear
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The second-quarter earnings season kicks into gear this week.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
However, Sting seems content, noting that 2025 will be his final year of doing conventions in his full gear, signaling the true end of an era.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Verb
In his words, his spending is more geared toward experiences than material things.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Many saw their installation as more of being revenue producers than geared toward safety considerations.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gear
Cite this Entry
“Gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gear. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gear
1 of 2 noun1
: equipment sense 2
camping gear
electronic gear
2
a
: a mechanism that performs a specific function in a machine
steering gear
b
: a toothed wheel : cogwheel
3
a
: working order, relation, or adjustment
got her career in gear
b
: 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
gear
2 of 2 verb1
: to provide or connect with gearing
2
: to prepare for operation
gear up for production
3
: to make suitable
a book geared for children
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