the back part of something, to bring up and care for (a child) until they are fully grown, to breed and raise (animals), to build or establish (something)

rear its ugly head, bring up the rear, rear end

rear its head, rear window, rear guard

Formal and Informal Expressions of rear

In different contexts, you can replace 'rear' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'back, raise, establish' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'butt, behind, rear end' is a commonplace synonym.

rear: Explore its Definition & Usage

rear Definition

1the back part of something
2to bring up and care for (a child) until they are fully grown
3to breed and raise (animals)
4to build or establish (something)

Using rear: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "rear" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The car's rear was damaged in the accident.
Example
She reared three children on her own.
Example
The farm rears cattle and sheep.
Example
The company plans to rear a new office building.

rear Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for rear

Antonyms for rear

Idioms Using rear

rear its ugly head
to become visible or obvious in an unpleasant or frightening way
Example
The problem of drug addiction has reared its ugly head in the community.
bring up the rear
to be at the back of a group of people or things
Example
The slowest runners brought up the rear in the race.
rear end
the back part of a vehicle
Example
The truck's rear end was badly damaged in the collision.

Phrases with rear

rear its head
to appear or become noticeable after being hidden or not active for a long time
Example
The issue of racism has reared its head again in the country.
rear window
the back window of a car
Example
He looked out of the rear window to see if the police were following him.
rear guard
a group of soldiers who protect the back of an army while it is moving forward
Example
The rear guard fought bravely to protect the retreating troops.

Origins of rear

from Old English 'rǣr', meaning 'at the back, behind'

📌

Summary: rear in Brief

The term 'rear' [rɪə(r)] refers to the back part of something, as in 'The car's rear was damaged in the accident.' It also means to bring up and care for a child, as in 'She reared three children on her own,' or to breed and raise animals, as in 'The farm rears cattle and sheep.' Additionally, it can mean to build or establish something, as in 'The company plans to rear a new office building.'