Meaning

(transitive) To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster.
2. (transitive, said of people towards animals) To breed and raise.
3. (intransitive) To rise up on the hind legs.
4. (intransitive, usually with "up") To get angry.
5. (intransitive) To rise high above, tower above.
6. (transitive, literary) To raise physically or metaphorically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate.
7. (transitive, rare) To construct by building; to set up
8. (transitive, rare) To raise spiritually; to lift up; to elevate morally.

Example Sentences

He wants a father to protect his youth, and rear him up to virtue.

The family has been rearing cattle for 200 years.

The horse was shocked, and thus reared.

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.

Poverty reared its ugly head. (appeared, started, began to have an effect)

The monster slowly reared its head.

In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me.

Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.

Word Forms

• rears
• rearing
• reared
• reer
• rere
• rare
• rearer
• more rear
• rearest
• most rear

Synonyms for rear

Antonyms for rear

Related Words

When Should You Use Rear?

Use rear when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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