rent 1 of 2

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

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2

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

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 rent
Noun
For many families, child care for one child costs about the same as rent, per a new report from the Labor Department that looks at 2022 data. Emily Peck, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024 Strictly speaking, living paycheck-to-paycheck means spending nearly all your income on necessities, such as rent, child care and food. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
Click through to see the private islands available to rent or purchase through Private Islands Inc. Madeline Fitzgerald, Quartz, 5 Dec. 2024 Ashley Benefield's lawyer, Faith Brown, told police at the time that her client had been planning to leave her husband and had an escape plan, including a safe place to stay, a burner phone and a rental car rented under a different name. Stephen Smith, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rent 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rent
Noun
  • Two court officers, both of whom carried guns and handcuffs and wore black bulletproof vests and otherwise stoic expressions, wiped tears from their eyes.
    Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Here’s our breakdown of the schools that have reason to celebrate, that experienced mixed results and that should be shedding some tears.
    Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • As burnout has shown to affect women disproportionately to men, Kathy McCabe bridges a growing gap between productivity and overall employee satisfaction.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Millennials are stepping into leadership, Boomers remain invaluable mentors, Gen X continues to bridge gaps, and Gen Z is already influencing cultural shifts.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Buckingham was asked where the idea for purchasing and leasing the land came from, since her commission doesn’t typically work with immigration matters.
    Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The units would be leased by the bedroom, not by the unit, and renters would share the common space, such as the living room and kitchen.
    Corina Vanek, Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Michael Lombardi, a confidant who had previously worked alongside Belichick on the Cleveland Browns and the Patriots, has already been hired as U.N.C.’s general manager, and there is talk of Belichick bringing his son Steve with him.
    Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
  • As for Secret Level, Watts was hired to come up with the original story for the Armored Core episode.
    Ollie Barder, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The white dress featured a strapless neckline, delicate draping and a thigh-high slit.
    Julia Teti, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Her dress donned a high slit that rested just below her waistline, a keyhole cutout and an off-the-shoulder neckline.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Still, with the pitching shored up, Cashman has a whole lot more work to do, with holes at first base and third base and maybe center field.
    Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Paredes is only 25, and his absence opens up a hole at third base.
    Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Jean’s NoHo restaurant slash club Jean’s, located next door to the Public Theater, began hosting private events well before its public opening in fall 2023, but has really found its stride in 2024.
    Kristen Tauer, WWD, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Even Bobby Portis is keeping his eyes up, passing up his usual mid-range looks in favor of hitting cutters like Taurean Prince on backdoor slashes.
    Brian Sampson, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • However, there could still be an opening at third base depending on what New York does moving forward.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
  • It will be preceded by an exhibition hosted in the same location and opening two days before the sale event.
    Sandra Salibian, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near rent

Cite this Entry

“Rent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rent. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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