rent 1 of 2

noun

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

Relevance
2
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) peered through the rent in the old garden wall for a glimpse of her mysterious new neighbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Warehouse rents in Riyadh during the first quarter of 2025, meanwhile, jumped 22% compared to last year, real estate firm JLL data showed, as supply lagged behind demand fueled by growing e-commerce and logistics growth. —Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 4 July 2025 Until then, the city is asking the judge to order the defendants to notify tenants that rent must be paid into an escrow account, according to the suit. —Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
Verb
Often producing while on the road, the pair recorded in studios from Boise to San Francisco to Toronto to Los Angeles, then in early 2024 rented a work/live space in Joshua Tree, Calif. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 3 July 2025 The space will be available to rent for small private events, as well. —Darah Derios, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rent
  1. tear
  2. gap
  3. lease
  4. hire
  5. slit
  6. hole
  7. slash
  8. opening
Noun
  • Achilles tears generally take up to a year to recover from, though some athletes have returned to their respective sports sooner.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 July 2025
  • There were tears, along with a goal celebration that made little sense.
    — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 6 July 2025
Definition of tear
Noun
  • The changes should spur the expansion of housing in urban areas that are close to jobs and transportation and make an impactful contribution toward addressing the housing crisis in California by narrowing the gap between housing demand and supply.
    — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2025
  • The report provides an analysis of base compensation, cash bonuses, and equity—including compensation perception gaps between first-time and seasoned CFOs.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 July 2025
Definition of gap
Verb
  • Will the dozens of new opportunities to lease federal land for energy production lead to even more drilling and mining? Unable to view our graphics?
    — Jim Sergent, USA Today, 11 July 2025
  • However, Ware has an agreement to lease one of its charters to its strategic ally, RFK Racing, in 2026.
    — Joseph Wolkin, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Definition of lease
Verb
  • To produce these communications, the House also hired a video producer at $115,000 a year, according to public records.
    — Mary Jo Pitzl, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
  • The Sisters of Bon Secours – the nuns who ran the home from 1925 to 1961 – hired a consulting company that denied a mass grave altogether, saying there was no evidence children had been buried there.
    — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
Definition of hire
Noun
  • These white jeans that come in a classic straight-leg style and have a breezy side slit.
    — Nicol Natale, People.com, 11 July 2025
  • When approaching a sea turtle egg, the ghost crab will snip a distinctive slit into eggshells.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 July 2025
Definition of slit
Noun
  • Toronto has plenty of holes in the roster to add talent.
    — Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
  • It's rumored that there are 18 holes on a course because there are 18 shots in a bottle of scotch.
    — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Definition of hole
Noun
  • Topline Congress appears to have backed off of deeper slashes to next year’s National Park Service budget, as advocacy groups mobilize public support through grassroots campaigns.
    — Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • In the early-dinner hours, before nightfall, white slashes of sunlight slip through cracks in the horizontal blinds and play through the dusky interior like a laser show.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 6 July 2025
Definition of slash
Noun
  • Cruz and Caminero each hit 21 long balls and Buxton had 20 in the opening round.
    — Ronald Blum, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
  • The opening of the film is a brief origin story for each of the four men and gives their characters a depth that was largely ignored in typical 1970’s thrillers.
    — Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of opening

Browse Nearby Words

renowns
rent
rentable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rent. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on rent

Nglish: Translation of rent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ten Painless Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Ten Painless Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a plate of arepas
Name That Dish! Some mouth-watering food for thought
See All