Meanings
rear1
present singular third person rears · participle present rearing · participle past reared · past reared · alternative reer · alternative rere · alternative rare
- intransitiveusuallyTo get angry.
The skunk reared up on its hind legs when it faced a fox.
- intransitiveTo rise high above, tower above.
By my side reared a solid stone wall, and beneath was simply the room we stood in, for the space below the stairway was not enclosed.
1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC - literarytransitiveTo raise physically or metaphorically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate.
The monster slowly reared its head.
3 more examples
Poverty reared its ugly head. (appeared, started, began to have an effect)
In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me.
1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLCMine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.
1835, Lord Lytton, Rienzi, the Last of the Roman Tribunes - raretransitiveTo construct by building; to set up
to rear defenses or houses
2 more examples
to rear one government on the ruins of another.
One reared a font of stone.
1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Prologue”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC - obsoletetransitiveTo rouse; to strip up.
And seeks the tusky boar to rear.
1684, John Dryden, The Second Epode of Horace
rear2
plural rears
- The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last in order.
Nipt with the lagging rear of winters froſt.
1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 91Antonyms: front
- governmentSpecifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest.
When the fierce Foe hung on our brok'n Rear
1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 78
present singular third person rears · participle present rearing · participle past reared · past reared
- To place in the rear; to secure the rear of.
- UKtransitivevulgarTo sodomize (perform anal sex)
rear3
present singular third person rears · participle present rearing · participle past reared · past reared · alternative reer · alternative rere
rear4
comparative rearer · comparative more rear · superlative rearest · superlative most rear · alternative reer · alternative rere · alternative rare
- US(of meats) Rare.
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
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo rise up on the hind legs.
nounThe back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last in order.
nounThe buttocks or bottom.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe side of an object that is opposite its front
nounthe fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
rear · verb
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁rey-“to lift oneself, rise”
- Proto-Germanic*raizijaną
- Proto-West Germanic*raiʀijan
- Old Englishrǣran“to raise, set upright, promote, exalt, begin, create, give rise to, excite, rouse, arouse, stir up”
- Middle Englishreren“to raise”
- Englishrear
From Middle English reren (“to raise”), from Old English rǣran (“to raise, set upright, promote, exalt, begin, create, give rise to, excite, rouse, arouse, stir up”), from Proto-West Germanic *raiʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *raizijaną, *raisijaną (“to cause to rise, raise”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rey- (“to lift oneself, rise”). Cognate with Scots rere (“to construct, build, rear”), Icelandic reisa (“to raise”), Gothic 𐍂𐌰𐌹𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 (raisjan, “to cause to rise, lift up, establish”), German reisen (“to travel”, literally “to rear up and depart”); and a doublet of raise. More at rise. Related to rise and raise, which is used for several of its now archaic or obsolete senses and for some of its senses that are currently more common in other dialects of English.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →rear · adjective, adverb, noun, verb
- Latinretro
- Anglo-Normanrere
- Middle Englishrere
- Englishrear
From Middle English rere, from Anglo-Norman rere, ultimately from Latin retro. Compare arrear. Doublet of retro.
More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Latin
Full word history & related roots →rear · verb
- Proto-Indo-European*ḱroHs-“to mix, stir, cook”
- Proto-Germanic*hrōzijaną“to stir”
- Old Englishhrēran“to move, shake, agitate”
- Middle Englishreren
- Englishrear
From Middle English reren, from Old English hrēran (“to move, shake, agitate”), from Proto-Germanic *hrōzijaną (“to stir”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱroHs- (“to mix, stir, cook”). Cognate with Dutch roeren (“to stir, shake, whip”), German rühren (“to stir, beat, move”), Swedish röra (“to touch, move, stir”), Icelandic hræra (“to stir”).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic
Full word history & related roots →rear · adjective
- Proto-Indo-European*ḱroHs-“to mix, stir, cook”
- Proto-Germanic*hrōzijaną“to stir”
- Old Englishhrēr
- Middle Englishrere
- Englishrear
From Middle English rere, from Old English hrēr, hrēre (“not thoroughly cooked, underdone, lightly boiled”), from hrēran (“to move, shake, agitate”), from Proto-Germanic *hrōzijaną (“to stir”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱroHs- (“to mix, stir, cook”). Related to Old English hrōr (“stirring, busy, active, strong, brave”), Dutch roeren (“to stir, shake, whip”), German rühren (“to stir, beat, move”), Swedish röra (“to touch, move, stir”), Icelandic hræra (“to stir”).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-Germanic
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek τρέφω, τρέφω
- τρέφω (tréphō)to bring up to maturity
- τρέφω (tréphō)to breed and raise
- ὀπίσθιος (opísthios)being behind, or in the hindmost part
Arabic خَلْفِيّ
- خَلْفِيّ (ḵalfiyy)being behind, or in the hindmost part
Bulgarian отглеждам, отглеждам
- отглеждам (otgleždam)to bring up to maturity
- отглеждам (otgleždam)to breed and raise
- изправям се на задни крака (izpravjam se na zadni kraka)to rise on the hind legs
- вдигам (vdigam)to lift, raise etc. physically
- повдигам (povdigam)to lift, raise etc. physically
- възвисявам (văzvisjavam)to lift spiritually
- за́ден (záden)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- задна част (zadna čast)the back or hindmost part
- задник (zadnik)the posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- тил (til)the part of an army or fleet which comes last
Chinese Mandarin 後面的 /后面的, 後面 /后面
- 後面的 /后面的 (hòumian de)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- 後面 /后面 (hòumian)the back or hindmost part
Czech vychovat, zadní
- vychovatto bring up to maturity
- zadníbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Danish bagdel
- bagdelthe back or hindmost part
Dutch grootbrengen, opvoeden
- grootbrengento bring up to maturity
- opvoedento bring up to maturity
- kwekento breed and raise
- steigerento rise on the hind legs
- oprichtento lift, raise etc. physically
- verheffento lift, raise etc. physically
- oprichtento set up, construct
- construerento set up, construct
- verheffento lift spiritually
- achterbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- achterstethe back or hindmost part
- achterkantthe back or hindmost part
- achtereindthe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- achterstethe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- achterwerkthe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- achterhoedethe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Esperanto baŭmi, ariero
- baŭmito rise on the hind legs
- arierothe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Finnish kasvattaa, kasvattaa
- kasvattaato bring up to maturity
- kasvattaato breed and raise
- nousta takajaloilleento rise on the hind legs
- nostaato lift, raise etc. physically
- kohottaato lift, raise etc. physically
- pystyttääto set up, construct
- taka-being behind, or in the hindmost part
- takaosathe back or hindmost part
- peräthe back or hindmost part
- peräpääthe back or hindmost part
- peräpääthe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- selustathe part of an army or fleet which comes last
- takajoukkothe part of an army or fleet which comes last
French élever, élever
- éleverto bring up to maturity
- éleverto breed and raise
- édifierto lift, raise etc. physically
- érigerto lift spiritually
- arrièrebeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- postérieurbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- derrièrethe back or hindmost part
- derrièrethe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- arrière-gardethe part of an army or fleet which comes last
German aufziehen, erziehen
- aufziehento bring up to maturity
- erziehento bring up to maturity
- großziehento bring up to maturity
- züchtento breed and raise
- aufbäumento rise on the hind legs
- steigento rise on the hind legs
- aufrichtento lift, raise etc. physically
- hinter-being behind, or in the hindmost part
- Hinterseitethe back or hindmost part
- Nachhutthe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Greek πισινός, οπισθοφυλακή
- πισινός (pisinós)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- οπισθοφυλακή (opisthofylakí)the part of an army or fleet which comes last
Hungarian ágaskodik, felágaskodik
- ágaskodikto rise on the hind legs
- felágaskodikto rise on the hind legs
- felegyenesedikto lift, raise etc. physically
- felágaskodikto lift, raise etc. physically
- ágaskodikto lift, raise etc. physically
- hátulsóbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- hátsóbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- hátsóthe back or hindmost part
- hátsó részthe back or hindmost part
- hátsó fertálythe back or hindmost part
- utó-the posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- utolsóthe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- hátvédthe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Irish tóg, tóg
- tógto bring up to maturity
- tógto breed and raise
- tógto lift, raise etc. physically
Italian crescere, crescere
- crescereto bring up to maturity
- crescereto breed and raise
- sollevarsito rise on the hind legs
- sollevareto lift, raise etc. physically
- elevareto lift, raise etc. physically
- edificareto set up, construct
- innalzareto lift spiritually
- retrobeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- posteriorebeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- posteriorethe back or hindmost part
- posteriorethe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- retrothe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- didietrothe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- retroguardiathe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Japanese 育てる, 育てる
- 育てる (sodateru)to bring up to maturity
- 育てる (sodateru)to breed and raise
- 飼育する (shiiku suru)to breed and raise
- 後ろ足立ちする (ushiro-ashi-dachi suru)to rise on the hind legs
- 育てる (sodateru)to lift, raise etc. physically
- そびえ立つ (sobietatsu)to set up, construct
- 後ろの (ushiro no)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- 後方の (kōhō no)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- 後ろ (ushiro)the back or hindmost part
- 後方 (kōhō)the back or hindmost part
- しんがり (shingari)the part of an army or fleet which comes last
Korean 뒤의, 배후의
- 뒤의 (dwiui)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- 배후의 (baehuui)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- 배후 (baehu)the back or hindmost part
Latin alere, postīcus
- alereto bring up to maturity
- postīcusbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Latvian audzināt
- audzinātto bring up to maturity
Lithuanian užpakalinis, galinis
- užpakalinisbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- galinisbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Māori whakatipu, whakatupu
- whakatiputo bring up to maturity
- whakatuputo bring up to maturity
- whakatuputo breed and raise
- tānaputo rise on the hind legs
- murithe back or hindmost part
- kumuthe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- hikuthe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Norwegian Bokmål bakre
- bakrebeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Polish stanąć dęba, zadni
- stanąć dębato rise on the hind legs
- zadnibeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- tylnybeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Portuguese criar, criar
- criarto bring up to maturity
- criarto breed and raise
- erguerto lift, raise etc. physically
- levantarto lift, raise etc. physically
- alçarto lift, raise etc. physically
- criarto lift, raise etc. physically
- erguerto set up, construct
- erigirto set up, construct
- construirto set up, construct
- erguerto lift spiritually
- traseirobeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- posteriorbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- traseirathe back or hindmost part
- traseirothe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- posteriorthe posterior, butt(ocks)- only terms with directional notion
- retaguardathe part of an army or fleet which comes last
- zagathe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Russian воспи́тывать, воспита́ть
- воспи́тывать (vospítyvatʹ)to bring up to maturity
- воспита́ть (vospitátʹ)to bring up to maturity
- выра́щивать (vyráščivatʹ)to breed and raise
- вы́растить (výrastitʹ)to breed and raise
- встава́ть на дыбы́ (vstavátʹ na dybý)to rise on the hind legs
- встать на дыбы́ (vstatʹ na dybý)to rise on the hind legs
- поднима́ть (podnimátʹ)to lift, raise etc. physically
- подня́ть (podnjátʹ)to lift, raise etc. physically
- возвыша́ть (vozvyšátʹ)to lift, raise etc. physically
- возвы́сить (vozvýsitʹ)to lift, raise etc. physically
- возноси́ть (voznosítʹ)to lift, raise etc. physically
- вознести́ (voznestí)to lift, raise etc. physically
- за́дний (zádnij)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- ты́льный (týlʹnyj)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- хвостово́й (xvostovój)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- за́дняя часть (zádnjaja častʹ)the back or hindmost part
- за́дняя сторона́ (zádnjaja storoná)the back or hindmost part
- зад (zad)the back or hindmost part
- тыл (tɨɫ)the back or hindmost part
- тыл (tyl)the part of an army or fleet which comes last
Scottish Gaelic tog, tog
- togto bring up to maturity
- togto breed and raise
- togto lift, raise etc. physically
- togto set up, construct
Slovak zadný
- zadnýbeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Spanish criar, criar
- criarto bring up to maturity
- criarto breed and raise
- erigirto lift, raise etc. physically
- construirto set up, construct
- traserobeing behind, or in the hindmost part
- parte posteriorthe back or hindmost part
- traserathe back or hindmost part
- zagathe back or hindmost part
- zaguerathe back or hindmost part
- parte traserathe back or hindmost part
- parte de atrásthe back or hindmost part
- retaguardiathe part of an army or fleet which comes last
- rezagathe part of an army or fleet which comes last
Swedish bakre
- bakrebeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Turkish arka
- arkabeing behind, or in the hindmost part
Ukrainian за́дній, ти́льний
- за́дній (zádnij)being behind, or in the hindmost part
- ти́льний (týlʹnyj)being behind, or in the hindmost part
Vietnamese nuôi nấng, nuôi
- nuôi nấngto bring up to maturity
- nuôito breed and raise
- nângto lift, raise etc. physically
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with rear
Sounds the same
Anagrams
Cite this entry
rear. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rear
“rear.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rear. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rear,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rear.
Source: rear on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.