rear 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrir How to pronounce rear (audio)
Definition of rearnext
as in back
being at or in the part of something opposite the front part go to the back of the building and look out the rear window and you'll see the eagle

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rear

2 of 3

noun

ˈrir How to pronounce rear (audio)
1
as in tail
a behind part or surface the rear of the car was sleekly designed

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2
as in seat
the part of the body upon which someone sits fell off her skates onto her rear

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rear

3 of 3

verb

ˈrir How to pronounce rear (audio)
1
as in to raise
to bring to maturity through care and education watched a documentary on how wolves rear their young

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2
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position it took all the men in the village to rear the frame for the barn, pulling hard at the ropes until all the sides were standing

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3
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials the city has plans for rearing a new convention center over the next two years

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4
as in to grow
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care an amateur who rears rare orchids in a professional-grade greenhouse

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rear contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rear are boost, elevate, heave, hoist, lift, and raise. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

When could boost be used to replace rear?

While the synonyms boost and rear are close in meaning, boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for rear?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

In what contexts can heave take the place of rear?

Although the words heave and rear have much in common, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When can hoist be used instead of rear?

While in some cases nearly identical to rear, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

When might lift be a better fit than rear?

The words lift and rear are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

When is raise a more appropriate choice than rear?

The words raise and rear can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

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 rear
Adjective
Both bikes have fully adjustable suspension front and rear, with 120 mm and 118 mm of travel respectively. —Joe Salas may 25, New Atlas, 25 May 2025 With two brush bars on each side, the front cone rotates in one direction while the rear brush goes the opposite way. —Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 22 May 2025
Noun
It’s currently mired in a double-digit decline; yes, health care is generally weak this year, but Squibb is pulling up the rear. —Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025 This part of the creature’s anatomy is similar to a batch of segments bearing respiratory organs at the rear of the body found in distant modern radiodont relatives like horseshoe crabs, woodlice and insects, Moysiuk said. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
Verb
And aside from these colossal creatures, The Wilds also plays a crucial role in North American wildlife conservation, with projects ranging from an American burying beetle breeding program to an initiative dedicated to rearing eastern hellbender salamanders. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 Unfortunately, antisemitism is a stubborn, ancient hate that rears its head at different times and shapeshifts in different societies. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rear
  1. back
  2. seat
  3. raise
  4. erect
  5. build
  6. grow
  7. tail
  8. foster
Adjective
  • More: 'Adult money' and no college debt: Harris and Trump back alternative routes to good jobs Interest continues to grow in vocational and trade programs among young Americans as four-year college enrollments flag.
    — Davis Winkie, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • Tear-out occurs when the drill bit penetrates the material, splintering the back side.
    — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025
Definition of back
Noun
  • With overseas ballots still to be counted and four seats undecided, Chega could overtake the Socialist Party and become the official opposition.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2025
  • One fan scatters his dad’s ashes underneath his seat.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Definition of seat
Verb
  • Fisher Scientific withdrew its full-year profit forecast while the medical equipment maker expects to take a $400 million hit in sales to China, as Trump’s tariffs would likely raise the cost of parts the company sources in China.
    — Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • But the inclusion of migrants, the vast majority of whom were not listed in CBP data as having been accused of any felonies, raises deeper questions about what kind of data belongs in a criminal database.
    — Dhruv Mehrotra, Wired News, 29 May 2025
Definition of raise
Verb
  • In this way, a fence was erected, but purely for certain people.
    — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 20 May 2025
  • These weren’t hastily erected barracks or rows of identical homes.
    — Eran Ben-Joseph, The Conversation, 19 May 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • The company is making a credible effort to build that foundation from the ground up.
    — Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • But Apple’s academy will be for small-to medium-sized businesses, according to Apple’s press release, not training workers or building infrastructure to produce iPhones the way it is done in China or India.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • An Army investigation found four horses had died in a year, the Army’s herd had grown old and their training and facilities were outdated.
    — Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • But today, humanity has grown to have a better appreciation for all sharks, even those that swim near the beach.
    — Chris Pepin-Neff, Scientific American, 26 May 2025
Definition of grow
Noun
  • Nobody’s going to beat you the last 150 meters, the Denver East senior assured herself, as Lakewood’s Eliana Angelino rode her tail.
    — Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
  • But a clear victory for democracy in Bangladesh, a country of 170 million people, carried a sting in its tail.
    — Simon Montlake, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
Definition of tail
Verb
  • Also unique to its program, the AI Workshop offers what every parent needs today, such as guidelines and best practices for integrating AI technology as well as an entire lesson dedicated to the importance of fostering creativity.
    — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The ostensible target of the purge are books fostering an ideology of racial preference or DEI, but the relation of this endeavor to national defense is, to say the least, tenuous.
    — George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2025
Definition of foster

Phrases Containing rear

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rear
reared
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Cite this Entry

“Rear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rear. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rear

Nglish: Translation of rear for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rear

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