rear

SayREER/ɹɪ(ə)ɹ/UK/ɹɪə̯/

Noun pluralrears

Verbrears, rearing, reared

18 meanings of rear

Practice

1
at the backadjective
Located at the back of something, not the front.
Like the back row of seats in a movie theater.
We sat in the rear seats of the bus.
The rear wheel of the bike was flat.
UsagePut it before a noun: the rear door. Or say at the back.
Similarback, hind, hindmost, posterior
Oppositefront, fore
2
nouncountable
The back part of something, including the soldiers or ships at the back.
We parked at the rear of the building and used the back door.
She parked at the rear of the lot.
UsageSay at the rear of something. Bring up the rear means to come last.
Similarback, tail, end
Oppositefront, head
3
verbtransitive
To look after children or young animals until they are grown up, or to keep and breed animals.
Like helping a small plant grow until it becomes a strong tree.
They worked hard to rear their three children.
She reared her younger siblings after their parents died.
UsageFor children, people usually say bring up or raise. Farmers rear animals.
Similarraise, nurture, breed
Note
4
bottomnouncountable
A polite word for a person's bottom.
He slipped on the ice and landed on his rear.
The puppy wagged its tail and wiggled its rear.
UsageOften on your rear: he fell on his rear.
Similarbottom, behind, backside, posterior, rump
5
verbliterarytransitive
To lift something up or make it rise, or to raise someone to a better, higher state.
The bear reared its huge head and sniffed the air.
Old fears can rear their heads when you least expect them.
UsageOften in rear its ugly head: a problem suddenly appears.
Similarraise, lift, elevate
Oppositelower, drop
Note

Less common meanings

6
on back legsverbintransitive
When an animal rises up onto its back legs.
Like standing up suddenly on your back feet.
The frightened horse began to rear.
The stallion reared when it heard the gunshot.
UsageOften rear up: the horse reared up.
7
tower aboveverbintransitive
To rise up high and tower over the things nearby.
The cliffs rear above the tiny fishing village.
Tall pines reared over the narrow mountain trail.
UsageOften rear above or rear over something.
Similartower, loom, rise, soar
8
get angryverbintransitive
To become angry or upset.
Like a pot of water that suddenly boils over.
He tends to rear up whenever anyone criticizes his cooking.
She reared up when he blamed her for the mistake.
UsageUsually rear up, often at someone or something.
Similarflare, bristle
9
verbraretransitive
To put something at the back, or to protect the back of a group.
10
verbraretransitive
To build something or put it up, such as a wall or monument.
One reared a font of stone.
1847, Alfred Tennyson, The PrincessHere, reared means built or set up.
to rear defenses or houses
Similarerect, build, raise, construct
Oppositedemolish
11
verbobsoletetransitive
To move or stir something.
Similarstir, disturb, churn
Note
12
verbobsoletetransitive
An old word meaning to cut up a cooked goose at the table.
Similarcarve
Note
13
verbobsoletetransitive
To lift something up and take it.
And hauing her from Trompart lightly reard, / Vpon his Courser set the louely lode,
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, reard means lifted up and carried off.
Note
14
verbobsoletetransitive
To wake someone up or stir them into action.
And seeks the tusky boar to rear.
1684, John Dryden, The Second Epode of HoraceHere, rear means to stir up or rouse the boar into action.
Note
15
verbobsolete
To bring something back to life, used only in the saying 'rear to life.'
Note
16
adjectivedialectal
Of meat or eggs, cooked only a little so the inside is still nearly raw.
Fred ordered a rear steak along with a glass of beer as he took a seat at an empty table
2017, Dr. Ardeshir Irani, Short Tales of the Old Wild West
17
verbrare
To have anal sex with someone.
18
adverbdialectalBritish
At an early time, or soon.
Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear!
1714, John Gay, The Shepherd's Week

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of rear apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 3, 5–8, 10, 13–14

From Old English rǣran, meaning "to raise or set upright." It is a doublet of raise and is related to rise.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Rear derives from Old English rǣran. en.wiktionary.org
Old English rǣran meant to raise or set upright. en.wiktionary.org
Rear and raise are doublets. en.wiktionary.org
Rear is etymologically related to rise. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1–2, 4, 9

It comes from Latin retro, meaning "back," through Anglo-Norman rere and then Middle English rere. The English word "retro" comes from the same Latin word by a different path.

Meanings 11–12, 15

From Old English hrēran, meaning "to move, shake, or stir."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

This verb rear derives from Old English hrēran. en.wiktionary.org
Old English hrēran means to move, shake, or stir. en.wiktionary.org
The gloss shake is confirmed. en.wiktionary.org
The gloss stir is confirmed. en.wiktionary.org