rear-end

1 of 2

verb

ˈrir-ˈend How to pronounce rear-end (audio)
-ˌend
rear-ended; rear-ending; rear-ends

transitive verb

: to crash into the back of (a vehicle)

rear end

2 of 2

noun

1
: the back part or section of something (such as a motor vehicle)
The preliminary investigation revealed that while traffic was stopped, the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck hit the rear end of a Buick passenger car …Gabe Hauari
2
: buttocks
He's sneaky strong, having increased his bench press to 325 pounds, but his legs remain matchsticks and he has virtually no rear end.Curry Kirkpatrick

Examples of rear-end in a Sentence

Noun She stood up and brushed off her rear end. The car's rear end was badly damaged in the accident.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Taylor Binnington, 39, of North Haven approached the area in a 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and was unable to stop in the icy conditions, rear-ending the tanker truck, state police said. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2025 According to the Bridgewater Police Department, a preliminary investigation determined that a semi-truck was pulling out of a gas station on U.S. Highway 22 West near the Thompson Avenue exit ramp when it was rear-ended by a Hyundai Elantra around 2:11 a.m. Abigail Adams, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
Due to this miscommunication, our front end measured an inch higher than necessary to clear heights, which in turn lowered our rear end below its minimum clearance—resulting in the disqualification. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 This resulting vehicle looks like a supercar as seen through the eyes of a hyperactive kindergartner especially its nightmarish rear end. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rear-end

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rear-end was in 1785

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Cite this Entry

“Rear-end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rear-end. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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