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
The exterior is defined by banks of windows across the superstructure and a rear cockpit deck that doubles as a basketball court. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024 Long and wide, the styling is evocative of the '68 Charger and features a long, aerodynamic rear window. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
At the rear, below two Venturi tunnels, a set of four tailpipes leave an impression on those left behind as Valhalla travels down the road. Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024 Mangione was sitting in the rear of the McDonald's wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop computer, court documents said. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
It’s also always reared its head within larger waves of fearmongering around immigrants. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024 Four goats have been reared on site, including Ed, whose birth, in 2020, proved a welcome respite for neighbors during the pandemic. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 8 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rear 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rear
Adjective
  • And while Mangione, like millions of people, apparently suffered from debilitating back pain, excellent health care is not generally an issue for Americans of great wealth.
    Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 14 Dec. 2024
  • This guy just had found his wife bound, um, and beaten on the back porch.
    Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • For instance, Amazon raised eyebrows in September when CEO Andy Jassy announced that corporate employees must return to the office five days a week starting in January 2025.
    Anuz Thapa, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Going forward, ConocoPhillips raised production guidance for Q4 to 1.99 million to 2.03 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 18 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
  • However, building these systems at scale requires deep engineering expertise and skilled teams to ensure success.
    William Mullane, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
  • As a result, instead of building a better life for their constituents, the Axis members made their countries into Iranian beachheads in a shadow conflict with the United States and Israel.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • As businesses continue to take advantage of AI in their operations and decision-making, its importance grows.
    Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
  • In the college courtyard, after the people had all gone home for the day, the roses remained, still growing at their own stately pace.
    Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
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 22 Dec. 2024.

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