rear
1the 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.
pertaining to or situated at the rear of something: the rear door of a bus.
Idioms about 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
1synonym study For rear
Other definitions for rear (2 of 2)
to take care of and support up to maturity: to rear a child.
to breed and raise (livestock).
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.
Origin of rear
2confusables note For rear
Other words for rear
Other words from rear
- un·reared, adjective
- well-reared, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use rear in a sentence
The rears of planes are becoming hell with smaller, harder seats to jam as many passengers in as possible.
Flying Coach Is the New Hell: How Airlines Engineer You Out of Room | Clive Irving | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter mom cries out in anguish and frustration on hearing the verdict, the ugly side of the protests rears its head.
Michael Brown’s Stepfather Tells Crowd, ‘Burn This Bitch Down’ | Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTEvery so often, true evil rears its ugly head and we must deal with it.
The message that we must send is that racism, in all of its forms, must be fought every time it rears its dangerous head.
Violence Erupts When You Tolerate Antisemitism | Dr. Charles Asher Small | April 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI look forward to his paeans to religious freedom when anti-Mormonism rears its head again in 2012.
But, just examine this heterogeneous pile of 'cigar-lights,' which rears its audacious head upon the table.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.The cupola rears its proud head majestically above the pile of stone and marble.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist | Alexander BerkmanWachusett, twelve miles distant, rears its imposing pile in the south, while Big Watatic overtops its brethren in the northwest.
Then along comes another—one with a hearty red face, who rears well back and steps out with martial precision.
Those Times And These | Irvin S. CobbBut the poor man remains, and the castle yet rears its lofty front above the hovels of the suffering laborers.
British Dictionary definitions for rear (1 of 2)
/ (rɪə) /
the back or hind part
the area or position that lies at the back: a garden at the rear of the house
the section of a military force or procession farthest from the front
the buttocks: See 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 rear: the rear legs; the rear side
Origin of rear
1British Dictionary definitions for rear (2 of 2)
/ (rɪə) /
(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
Origin of rear
2Derived forms of rear
- rearer, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with rear
In addition to the idioms beginning with rear
- rear end
- rear its ugly head
also see:
- bring up the rear
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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