rearview mirror

noun

rear·​view mirror ˈrir-ˌvyü- 

variants or rearview

plural rearview mirrors or rearviews

1

: a mirror (as in an automobile) that gives the driver a view of the area behind a vehicle

The air fresheners that dangle from rearview mirrors have been a ubiquitous accessory in cars for decades.

—Mike Baker and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

Another car's headlights appeared in her rearview—the first she'd seen since … turning onto Route 60.

—Erin Brockovich and C. J. Lyons

2

: past entry 3

—used in phrases like in the rearview mirror and in one's rearview mirror

With the midterm elections barely in the rearview mirror, the competition is heating up among states trying to move up in the presidential primary lineup.

—Alex Seitz-Wald and Natasha Korecki

Siakam was coming off shoulder surgery as well. … But Siakam put all that in his rearview mirror and never looked back, finishing with career highs in rebounds and assists …

—Mike Ganter

After Zayn Malik abruptly departed from One Direction in 2015, he largely left the band in his rearview.

—Larisha Paul

… [rappers] Killer Mike and El-P, both of whom had left rap's zeitgeist in their rearviews long ago …

—Tom Breihan

Examples of rearview mirror in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Minnesota had won the first three meetings with St. Louis in 2024-25, and a win on March 15 at Xcel Energy Center would effectively have put the Blues in the Wild’s proverbial rearview mirror for the rest of the regular season. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2025

But that doesn’t mean Democrats won’t be looking in the rearview mirror after a bruising fight with Republicans. —Aris Folley, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025

Across the Bay Area, residents like Brown are choosing to leave Tesla in their rearview mirrors and selling their once-beloved cars. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025

With Severance Season 2 in the rearview mirror, the acclaimed actor Adam Scott reflects on the music—R.E.M., U2, Vampire Weekend, Waxahatchee, and more—that has shaped his life. —Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rearview mirror

• clearer
• dearer
• hearer
• nearer
• shearer

Kids Definition

rearview mirror

noun

rear·​view mirror ˌri(ə)r-ˌvyü- 

: a mirror (as in a car) that gives a view to the rear