verb

rear

REER

verb

To bring up and care for a child or young animal until maturity.

"They reared three children on the family farm."

"The sanctuary rears orphaned elephant calves."

Of a horse, to rise up on its hind legs.

"The horse reared in fright at the sudden noise."

noun

The back part of something, or the position behind everything else.

"The entrance is around the rear of the building."

"He brought up the rear of the hiking group."

adj

Located at the back.

"A dent appeared in the rear bumper."

How to Use Rear

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs a verb, to raise a child or animal, or (of a horse) to rise on its hind legs; as a noun or adjective, it refers to the back part of something.

Common mistake

As a noun, "rear" is also an informal, polite way of referring to someone's buttocks.

Common pairings

rear a child rear up the rear of the car

Word Forms

rearer comparative, more rear comparative, reared past tense, reared past tense, reared past tense, rears plural, rears singular, rears singular, rears singular, rearest superlative, most rear superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

They _____ three children on the family farm.

Etymology

From Old English rǣran ("to raise, set upright"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to cause to rise" — a doublet of raise, and related to rise.

Antonyms

front

Related Words

back front forward

Rhymes for rear

ear year dear hear tear bear wear near fear pear gear sear

See all rhymes for rear →

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