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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 of rear in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
It was described as a black or dark-colored 2001-2004 Volvo S-60 with no front license plate and an unknown rear plate. James Powel, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 When paired with the soundbar, the Ultra Open Earbuds act as rear surround sound speakers, working in concert with the soundbar. PCMAG, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
Roberts said a 3-year-old girl was extracted from the rear of the two-story house and was taken to a hospital in Louisville for treatment. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 17 Oct. 2024 The two-door is as sleek as supercars come these days, with smooth-flowing lines traveling from the front to the rear. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
Prominent was one horse rearing, the rider keeping tight in his seat. Lydia Davis, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024 Accumulated leaf litter, especially the leaf litter that sits around all winter, is a gold mine for many of these insects, providing nutrients, overwintering space, and a place to rear their young. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rear 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rear
Adjective
  • There were cigarettes on the bar, empty glasses on the back tables, and only a dozen guests left at Sid Gold’s Request Room.
    Curbed Staff, Curbed, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Meghan and later Harry did, however, back campaigns calling for Americans to go out and vote alongside statements that appeared to skew towards evicting Trump from the White House.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Sensing her low-grade panic, my friends moved a few seats down at the bar, leaving me and Janine to get into it.
    Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Democrat Dave Min has defeated Republican Scott Baugh in the race for a congressional seat in Orange County, California, NBC News projects.
    Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Loading your audio article California air quality regulators late Friday approved a plan to strengthen limits on the planet-warming emissions from gasoline and diesel fuels, a move expected to raise gas prices while bringing public health benefits.
    Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • The company has established an at-the-market equity program to sell up to US$250 million of common shares, raising gross proceeds of $138,476,000 during the six months ended September 30, 2024.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Two months ago, the last of the four decades-old hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River targeted for removal were taken down — opening the river to salmon that had been spawning in those waters for thousands of years before the dams were erected for electrical power.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024
  • Various practices became associated with Advent, including lighting an Advent wreath, erecting a Christmas tree, and putting out Christmas decorations.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • By the end of the first quarter, Stanford built a 22-point lead.
    Justice delos Santos, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • Biking to Chouinard’s home, Caldwell quickly realized how many of the original houses in Jackson had been scraped to build mansions.
    Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Those arguments have been repeated by a small but growing number of online detractors.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
  • As its impacts grow more visible and destructive, how is this possible? Views of Hurricane Milton’s damage across Florida.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Testers appreciated the Venture’s neutral profile, which transitions from zero-camber underfoot to a gentle rocker between the inserts, nose, and tail.
    Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
  • After a semi-heated debrief with Kaitlyn and Byron, where she’s ordered to find a qualified handler for their pilot lioness, Joe picks up a tail on the highway and calls in Kyle for assistance, who’s already tracking her from the road about five minutes away.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Repeated visualization helps to rewire the brain, fostering a self-image aligned with one's aspirations.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
  • This approach mirrors Meta’s broader strategy of fostering innovation through openness, as seen with other initiatives like the Open Compute Project and PyTorch.
    Patrick Moorhead, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near rear

Cite this Entry

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

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