rear

[ reer ]

/ rɪər /

See synonyms for: rear / reared / rearing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the back of something, as distinguished from the front: The porch is at the rear of the house.

the space or position behind something: The bus driver asked the passengers to move to the rear.

the buttocks; rump.

the hindmost portion of an army, fleet, etc.

adjective

pertaining to or situated at the rear of something: the rear door of a bus.

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Idioms for rear

bring up the rear, to be at the end; follow behind: The army retreated, and the fleeing civilian population brought up the rear.

Origin of rear

First recorded in 1590–1600; aphetic variant of arrear

synonym study for rear

5. See back¹.

Definition for rear (2 of 2)

rear²

[ reer ]

/ rɪər /

verb (used with object)

to take care of and support up to maturity: to rear a child.

to breed and raise (livestock).

to raise by building; erect.

to raise to an upright position: to rear a ladder.

to lift or hold up; elevate; raise.

verb (used without object)

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

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

to rise high or tower aloft: The skyscraper rears high over the neighboring buildings.

SYNONYMS FOR rear

1 nurture, raise.

3 construct.

5 loft.

See synonyms for rear on Thesaurus.com

Origin of rear

before 900; Middle English reren,Old English rǣran to raise; cognate with Gothic -raisjan,Old Norse reisa

words often confused with rear

1. See raise.

OTHER WORDS FROM rear

un·reared, adjectivewell-reared, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for rear

As they go to grab it, they bring their tail up and in, using their rear to scoop up the worm.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound|Carolyn Wilke|October 29, 2020|Science News For Students
Ibis offers the “Roxy tune,” adjusting the rear shock so that smaller riders can enjoy optimal suspension engineering.
Short Cyclists Can Rip on 29ers, Too|Kelly Bastone|October 28, 2020|Outside Online
Google and a couple of Samsung events brought up the rear, critiqued for having more advertising-like presentation styles.
Who wore it best? Rating Big Tech’s product debuts|Aaron Pressman|October 23, 2020|Fortune
But, the ability to individually power the rear wheels also allows the system to direct power to whichever of those has the most traction.
A First Look at the 2022 GMC Hummer EV (It's Awesome)|Wes Siler|October 21, 2020|Outside Online

It also has a “crab walk” feature that lets the front and rear wheels steer at the same angle at low speeds so it can move diagonally around obstacles.
An electric Hummer? Battery-powered trucks head to showrooms|Verne Kopytoff|October 21, 2020|Fortune
Even if they have been reared from a young age in captivity, news reports abound with animal attacks.
The $10 Billion Pet Cheetah and Chimp Industry|Sharon Adarlo|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For a while, she fell into a depression and abandoned the churchgoing Methodist tradition in which she was reared.
Joy Reid, MSNBC Anchor, on the Racism of the Tea Party, Family Dramas, and Why She Loves Boxing|Lloyd Grove|March 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Racial tension, never far from the surface of public debate here, also reared its head.
Oscar Pistorius Now Being Seen by Many South Africans as a Fallen Hero|Eusebius McKaiser|February 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He acquired the wolves as cubs from zoos or animal parks and has reared them mostly by hand.
Meet Germany's Wolf Man|Justin Green|January 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
During a visitation on August 14, a caustic and angry Casey reared her head and jurors were seen taking notes.
Casey Anthony Speaks|Diane Dimond|June 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Again, this Confederate soldier was born and reared a gentleman, was so by instinct.
The Story of a Confederate boy in the Civil War|David E. Johnston
They have a right to be born with a good inheritance, to be reared in good health, and to be well trained in a happy home.
The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book|Various
It is all very well to love the woman who reared us, but est medius in rebus.
The Bashful Lover (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XIX)|Charles Paul de Kock
And now Carmen herself had shown him that real education must be reared upon a foundation wholly spiritual.
Carmen Ariza|Charles Francis Stocking
It reared over the boat that Hrymer sat in and that Thor straddled across.
The Children of Odin|Padraic Colum

British Dictionary definitions for rear (1 of 2)

rear¹

/ (rɪə) /

noun

the back or hind part

the area or position that lies at the backa garden at the rear of the house

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

the buttocksSee buttock

bring up the rear to be at the back in a procession, race, etc

in the rear at the back

(modifier) of or in the rearthe rear legs; the rear side

Word Origin for rear

C17: probably abstracted from rearward or rearguard

British Dictionary definitions for rear (2 of 2)

rear²

/ (rɪə) /

verb

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

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

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

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

(intr often foll by up) (esp of horses) to lift the front legs in the air and stand nearly upright

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

(intr) to start with anger, resentment, etc

Derived forms of rear

rearer, noun

Word Origin for rear

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with rear

rear

In addition to the idioms beginning with rear

rear end
rear its ugly head

also see:

bring up the rear

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