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, 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 by up ).
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. bring up the rear
   to be at the back in a procession, race, etc
6. in the rear
   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. introften foll byup (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.

Derived Forms

• ˈrearer, noun

Other Words From

• un·reared adjective
• well-reared adjective

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 ( def 85 ).

More idioms and phrases containing rear

• bring up the rear

Synonym Study

See back ¹.

Example Sentences

According to the report, a car coming from behind made a lane change and hit the Waymo’s left rear corner.

From Los Angeles Times

Alpine will also use Mercedes-supplied gearboxes and rear suspension from 2026, although the team are exploring their options to design these items in-house form 2027.

From BBC

The affected building, at the rear of the Magic Cottage charity shop, remained alight on Monday morning but no injuries were reported.

From BBC

Falling masonry instantly killed three firemen in Cheapside Street and 11 firemen and fire salvage men who were tackling the flames at the rear of the building in Warroch Street.

From BBC

Another alumnus wrote that he scraped off a 47 sticker from his car rear window.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• breed
• bring up
• care for
• educate