What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bottom
Example
The cat was hiding under the bottom shelf. [bottom: noun]
Example
She placed the book on the bottom of the stack. [bottom: noun]
Example
He fell and landed on his bottom. [bottom: noun]
rear
Example
The car's rear bumper was damaged in the accident. [rear: adjective]
Example
Please sit in the rear seats of the bus. [rear: noun]
Example
They are planning to rear chickens in their backyard. [rear: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bottom is more commonly used than rear in everyday language. Bottom is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while rear is less common and has more specific uses.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bottom and rear?
Both bottom and rear are generally considered informal and can be used in casual conversations. However, rear may be slightly more formal when used in the context of child-rearing.