rear

¹

[reer]

noun

1. the back of something, as distinguished from the front.

   The porch is at the rear of the house.

2. the space or position behind something.

   The bus driver asked the passengers to move to the rear.

3. the buttocks; rump.

4. the hindmost portion of an army, fleet, etc.

adjective

1. pertaining to or situated at the rear of something.

   the rear door of a bus.

rear

²

[reer]

verb (used with object)

1. to take care of and support up to maturity.

   to rear a child.

   Synonyms: raise, nurture

2. to breed and raise (livestock).

3. to raise by building; erect.

   Synonyms: construct

4. to raise to an upright position.

   to rear a ladder.

5. to lift or hold up; elevate; raise.

   Synonyms: lift, lift, hoist

verb (used without object)

1. to rise on the hind legs, as a horse or other animal.

2. (of a person) to start up in angry excitement, hot resentment, or the like (usually followed byup ).

3. to rise high or tower aloft.

   The skyscraper rears high over the neighboring buildings.

rear

¹

/ rɪə /

noun

1. the back or hind part

2. the area or position that lies at the back

   a garden at the rear of the house

3. the section of a military force or procession farthest from the front

4. the buttocks See buttock

5. to be at the back in a procession, race, etc

6. at the back

7. (modifier) of or in the rear

   the rear legs

   the rear side

rear

²

/ rɪə /

verb

1. (tr) to care for and educate (children) until maturity; bring up; raise

2. (tr) to breed (animals) or grow (plants)

3. (tr) to place or lift (a ladder, etc) upright

4. (tr) to erect (a monument, building, etc); put up

5. (esp of horses) to lift the front legs in the air and stand nearly upright

6. (intr; often foll by up or over) (esp of tall buildings) to rise high; tower

7. (intr) to start with anger, resentment, etc

Confusables Note

See raise.

Other Word Forms

• unreared adjective
• well-reared adjective
• rearer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rear¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; shortened variant of arrear

Origin of rear²

First recorded before 900; Middle English reren, ræren, reare, Old English rǣran “to raise ”; cognate with Gothic -raisjan, Old Norse reisa

Word History and Origins

Origin of rear¹

C17: probably abstracted from _rearward or _rearguard

Origin of rear²

Old English rǣran ; related to Old High German rēren to distribute, Old Norse reisa to _raise

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bring up the rear, to be at the end; follow behind.

   The army retreated, and the fleeing civilian population brought up the rear.

2. rear its (ugly) head. head.

More idioms and phrases containing rear

• bring up the rear

Synonym Study

See back ¹.

Example Sentences

Even Djokovic, who has a sturdy case as the tennis GOAT, acknowledges he’s fading in the rear view.

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The rear façade consists of three pavilions that Mr. Lacovara says were modeled on the camera obscura, used by Renaissance artists to achieve accurate perspective.

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Propulsion is provided by twin electric motors between the rear wheels.

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The body styles have changed, the engine has moved from the front to the rear, and the technology these days is out of this world.

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Sport Prestige, love is all around, starting with the handsome, fully wrapped leather interior—dash console, front and rear door caps and central panels, center console/armrests, the whole smash.

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Related Words

• back 
• back door 
• back end 
• backside 
• bottom 
• butt 
• rear end 
• tail