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
Brown then jumped over a fence separating the two properties from the backyard and approached a black Acura, which was running, but parked in the rear area of 50-52 Flatbush Ave. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026 Built in the early 1910s near Commonwealth Avenue, the property’s rear portion will be leased by Scout Motors and renovated in partnership with a developer for vehicle engineering, research, and development. — Chase Jordan october 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
Recommended by Our Editors The resulting sound field is large and front-facing, and precise enough to make up for the lack of rear-facing speakers. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026 His parents were also sitting in the rear of the courtroom, his mother's eyes red from weeping. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
Males then use dedicated limbs called ovigers to grab the eggs, glue them to their own legs using secretions, then rear them on their own. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026 Many young adults who started families in the past twenty years were raised this way, which shaped their own conceptions of how to rear children. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 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. aft
  8. tail
Adjective
  • Its back alleys are still pedestrian-only (although the odd motorbike roars past) and maintain their charm.
    — Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • When you're finished, swipe down, use the back gesture or tap the X in the upper-left corner.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of back
Noun
  • Democrats’ hopes rise in Texas Democrats are feeling newly optimistic about Texas, even in deep-red seats.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • However, in this case, the two Democratic seats in the minority are currently vacant, and one Republican seat is about to be vacated.
    — Tzachi Zach, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of seat
Verb
  • Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions of federal and state law raised by the case.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Boat trips to Capri and Positano are on the doorstep, as are hair-raising Vespa tours on hairpin roads and private visits to Pompei and Herculaneum.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of raise
Verb
  • The court’s decision comes just weeks after the administration erected the first border wall panels in the Big Bend sector in the middle of September.
    — Rebecca Santana, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The blades were smaller then, the towers shorter, the whole apparatus closer to a windmill than the hulking machines erected today—the tallest of which exceed 300 meters, with rotor blades longer than a football field.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • By comparison, human advisors can build a comprehensive financial plan — including investing, taxes, insurance, retirement planning, estate planning and more — based on your specific goals.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • By the end of last year, 65 Marriott associates provided more than 680 hours of mentorship, helping refugee women build confidence and job skills, as well as find opportunities for work.
    — Ted Kitterman, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of build
Verb
  • Now some of the nation’s most prestigious health systems are jumping into the growing business of longevity.
    — Sarah Todd, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The actor was in and out of colleges but studied acting and grew fond of Shakespeare, according to People.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of grow
Adjective
  • The Lake of Dreams show still feels like an oddly charming fever dream—projections, puppetry, and music best experienced from SW, Lakeside, or the aft-deck fantasy bar literally called Aft.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The aft end of Nova’s second stage is designed with a heat shield to protect the vehicle during reentry through Earth’s atmosphere.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of aft
Noun
  • In the most extreme, low-probability scenarios, at the very tip of the long tail, the calculated death toll was huge, in the tens of millions.
    — Kevin Roose, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Working hard to be horrible and beautiful at once, Vahl’s debut is a stark, memorable vision of right-wing terror ultimately eating its own tail.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tail

Phrases Containing rear

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reaps
rear
reared
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Cite this Entry

“Rear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rear. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rear

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