rear 1 of 3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rear

2 of 3

noun

rear

3 of 3

verb

1
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples 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
Red Bull made a mistake adjusting his rear wing and data showed his vehicle was running slower than Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton on the straightaways. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 24 Nov. 2024 However, the rifle is equipped with fiber optic front and rear sights as well. Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
There are two separate touch screens for climate control, one located low in the center stack, below the infotainment screen, the other available to second-row occupants at the rear of the center console. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 12 Nov. 2024 The tree will be carried by Lynden Transport in an 80-foot flatbed truck covered with protective wrapping and a plexiglass window at the rear. Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
Mati Clementine Diop was born in 1982 and reared in Paris’s Twelfth Arrondissement, a quiet residential area whose Hausmannian architecture and lack of diversity felt stultifying. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024 Products contain cells originally harvested from live animals, but this is arguably very different to rearing livestock for slaughter; some people argue cultured meat products are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. David Prosser, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rear 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rear
Adjective
  • The defense is the same, with Inaki Pena in goal supported by a back line of Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez and a Alejandro Balde who vomited blood and had to be stretchered off last time out.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
  • Another customer noted that their back pain went away after just one week of using the mattress topper.
    Lauren Taylor, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Snag a seat at the bar for selections from the raw bar and lighter bites, or kick it family style and share some of their many entrees and sides.
    Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Republican Jeff Gonzalez won a seat in the Assembly by focusing on the high cost of living and building alliances with Democrats.
    Anabel Sosa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Royal Caribbean International raised its gratuity rates last month.
    Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
  • King changed his long-standing opposition to gun restrictions after the mass shooting and filed a bill that would have raised the age to purchase AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21 years of age.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Digital architecture erected at the founding of bitcoin set a limit of 21 million bitcoins.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2024
  • With set to take office in January, time is running out for the to stop razor wire from being erected along Texas' border with Mexico.
    Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The bishop wanted to build an even grander Gothic monument.
    Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Meanwhile the Sierra Madre Playhouse, built for the silents, has become the L.A. area’s newest performing arts center, where Wild Up will be in residence.
    Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Women, for instance, are freezing their eggs at growing rates.
    Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024
  • The membership has since grown to approximately 300 members with two to three new members joining each month, primarily through word-of-mouth.
    Carrie Coolidge, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • On Halloween, the couple posted a cheeky Halloween photo on the beach with Belichick dressed as a fisherman and reeling in Hudson, who donned a mermaid tail.
    Lawrence Yee, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
  • And what’s up with these weird tufts of hair that seem to be sprouting in the small of her back, or what appears to be the nub of a tail where her backbone ends?
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Tusk has continued to emphasize his dedication to fostering dialogue, including meetings with key leaders such as Friedrich Merz, head of Germany's CDU party, who recently visited Kyiv.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Farrar’s goal was to foster a discussion of initial concerns voiced by several virologists that features of the virus appeared to be man-made.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near rear

Cite this Entry

“Rear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rear. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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