rear
REER
Rear (verb) means to bring up and care for a child or young animal until maturity. Example: “They reared three children on the family farm.”
verb
1
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."
"My grandparents reared chickens and a few goats behind the house."
2
Of a horse, to rise up on its hind legs.
"The horse reared in fright at the sudden noise."
"The pony reared up when the dog barked right behind it."
"Nervous horses may rear if the rider pulls too hard on the reins."
noun
1
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."
"Please wait at the rear of the queue like everyone else."
adj
1
Located at the back.
"A dent appeared in the rear bumper."
"Children must sit in the rear seat with their belts fastened."
"Check the rear window carefully before you reverse out of the drive."
How to use rear
Learner’s notesIn 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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
rear a child
rear up
the rear of the car
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Word forms
- Plural
- rears
- Third person singular
- rears
- Past tense
- reared
- Comparative
- rearer, more rear
- Superlative
- rearest, most rear
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for rear
See all rhymes for rear →Frequently asked questions
What does “rear” mean?
The word “rear” means to bring up and care for a child or young animal until maturity. In plain terms, as 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.
How do you pronounce “rear”?
“Rear” is pronounced REER (/ˈɹɪɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rear” in a sentence?
Here is “rear” used in a sentence: “They reared three children on the family farm.”
What is the opposite of “rear”?
The opposite of “rear” — its antonyms — is front.
What part of speech is “rear”?
Depending on how it is used, “rear” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “rear” come from?
The word “rear” comes from Old English. 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.
Is “rear” a common word?
“Rear” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “rear” have?
“Rear” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bring up and care for a child or young animal until maturity.
What is the difference between rear and raise?
Used of children, rear and raise mean the same thing — to bring someone up to maturity. Raise is more common in everyday American English; rear sounds more formal and is preferred in British English. Rear also applies naturally to animals, as in rearing cattle.
Can you rear an animal?
Yes. Rear is commonly used for animals, meaning to breed and care for young livestock or other creatures until they mature. Farmers rear cattle, sheep, and poultry; someone might rear chickens in a garden. This animal sense is one reason rear feels broader than raise.
What is an example of rear used as a verb?
You might say, 'She was reared by her grandparents,' or 'They reared four children in the countryside.' For animals: 'The farm rears free-range pigs.' In each case, rear means to nurture and bring up a child or young animal through to maturity.
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