Rear vs. Rare — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 8, 2024
Rear denotes a position at the back of something, focusing on location, while rare implies scarcity or infrequency, highlighting uniqueness or uncommonness.
Difference Between Rear and Rare
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Rear refers to the back part or position of something, indicating its physical placement or orientation. For instance, the rear entrance of a building is located at its back, emphasizing spatial arrangement. On the other hand, rare describes something that is not commonly found or occurs infrequently. This can apply to items, events, or conditions, suggesting uniqueness or scarcity.
While rear is often used in contexts related to position or direction, highlighting spatial relationships, rare is used to denote the exceptional nature of an occurrence, object, or quality. For example, a rare bird sighting contrasts with the more common ones by its infrequency, not its physical location.
Rear can also imply nurturing or raising, particularly in the context of upbringing, such as rearing children. This usage focuses on the act of support and development over time. In contrast, rare, when used to describe meat, refers to a level of doneness, indicating minimal cooking and a soft, red center, showcasing a culinary preference rather than upbringing.
In military terms, rear denotes the part of an army located behind the main body, providing support and reserves. This strategic positioning contrasts with rare, which has no direct military application but could metaphorically describe a seldom-seen strategy or resource within military contexts.
Rear encompasses actions and responsibilities related to the back end of operations, whether in logistics, planning, or support roles. Rare, conversely, emphasizes the extraordinary or exceptional aspect of something within any context, be it natural, manufactured, or conceptual.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Position at the back or end
Not commonly found or seen; unusual
Contexts of Use
Spatial orientation, upbringing, military
Scarcity, culinary terms, uniqueness
Examples
Rear entrance of a building, rearing children
Rare bird species, rare steak
Implications
Location, support, development
Uniqueness, minimal cooking, scarcity
Contrast with Common
Implies back-end or support role
Implies infrequency or exceptional quality
Compare with Definitions
Rear
Back part of something.
The garden is located at the rear of the house.
Rare
Not often occurring.
Finding a rare stamp in that collection was unexpected.
Rear
Positioned behind.
The rear wheels of the car need replacing.
Rare
Exceptionally good or remarkable.
It's rare to find such honesty in politics.
Rear
Bringing up and caring for.
They are dedicated to rearing their children with strong values.
Rare
Scarce in occurrence.
A rare disease affects fewer than 1 in 10,000 people.
Rear
Opposite of front.
Please, move to the rear of the room for the group photo.
Rare
Uncommon quality or trait.
Her ability to remember dates is quite rare.
Rear
Military term for back.
The supplies were kept in the rear of the convoy.
Rare
Less cooked steak.
He prefers his steak rare.
Rear
A hind part.
Rare
Infrequently occurring; uncommon
A rare event.
A plant that is rare in this region.
Rear
The point or area farthest from the front
The rear of the hall.
Rare
Excellent; extraordinary
A rare sense of honor.
Rear
The part of a military deployment usually farthest from the fighting front.
Rare
Thin in density; rarefied
Rare air.
Rear
(Informal) The buttocks.
Rare
Cooked just a short time so as to retain juice and redness
A rare steak.
Rear
Of, at, or located in the rear.
Rare
Very uncommon; scarce.
Black pearls are very rare and therefore very valuable.
Rear
To care for (children or a child) during the early stages of life; bring up. See Usage Note at raise.
Rare
(of a gas) Thin; of low density.
Rear
To tend (growing plants or animals).
Rare
Good; enjoyable.
Rear
To build; erect.
Rare
(cooking) Particularly of meat, especially beefsteak: cooked very lightly, so the meat is still red.
Well done
Rear
(Archaic) To lift upright; raise.
Rare
(obsolete) Early.
Rear
To rise on the hind legs, as a horse.
Rare
(gaming) A scarce or uncommon item.
Rear
To rise high in the air; tower.
Rare
To rear, rise up, start backwards.
Rear
(transitive) To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster.
Rare
To rear, bring up, raise.
Rear
To breed and raise.
The family has been rearing cattle for 200 years.
Rare
Early.
Rude mechanicals that rare and lateWork in the market place.
Rear
(intransitive) To rise up on the hind legs
The horse was shocked, and thus reared.
Rare
Nearly raw; partially cooked; not thoroughly cooked; underdone; as, rare beef or mutton.
New-laid eggs, which Baucis' busy careTurned by a gentle fire, and roasted rare.
Rear
To get angry.
Rare
Not frequent; seldom met with or occurring; unusual; as, a rare event.
Rear
(intransitive) To rise high above, tower above.
Rare
Of an uncommon nature; unusually excellent; valuable to a degree seldom found.
Rare work, all filled with terror and delight.
Above the rest I judge one beauty rare.
Rear
To raise physically or metaphorically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate.
The monster slowly reared its head.
Rare
Thinly scattered; dispersed.
Those rare and solitary, these in flocks.
Rear
To construct by building; to set up
To rear defenses or houses
To rear one government on the ruins of another.
Rare
Characterized by wide separation of parts; of loose texture; not thick or dense; thin; as, a rare atmosphere at high elevations.
Water is nineteen times lighter, and by consequence nineteen times rarer, than gold.
A perfect union of wit and judgment is one of the rarest things in the world.
When any particular piece of money grew very scarce, it was often recoined by a succeeding emperor.
Rear
To raise spiritually; to lift up; to elevate morally.
Rare
Not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness;
A rare word
Rare books
Rear
To lift and take up.
Rare
Recurring only at long intervals;
A rare appearance
Total eclipses are rare events
Rear
To rouse; to strip up.
Rare
Not widely distributed;
Rare herbs
Rare patches of gree in the desert
Rear
To place in the rear; to secure the rear of.
Rare
Marked by an uncommon quality; especially superlative or extreme of its kind;
What is so rare as a day in June
A rare skill
An uncommon sense of humor
She was kind to an uncommon degree
Rear
(transitive) To move; stir.
Rare
Having low density;
Rare gasses
Lightheaded from the rarefied mountain air
Rear
To carve.
Rear that goose!
Rare
(of meat) cooked a short time; still red inside;
Rare roast beef
Rear
(regional, obsolete) To revive, bring to life, quicken. (only in the phrase, to rear to life)
Rear
Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost
The rear rank of a company
Sit in the rear seats of a car
Rear
(of eggs) Underdone; nearly raw.
Rear
(of meats) Rare.
Rear
Early; soon
Rear
The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last in order.
Rear
(military) Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest.
Rear
(anatomy) The buttocks or bottom.
Rear
Early; soon.
Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear?
Rear
The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last in order; - opposed to front.
Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost.
Rear
Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest.
When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear.
Rear
Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company.
Rear
To place in the rear; to secure the rear of.
Rear
To raise; to lift up; to cause to rise, become erect, etc.; to elevate; as, to rear a monolith.
In adoration at his feet I fellSubmiss; he reared me.
It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts.
Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.
Rear
To erect by building; to set up; to construct; as, to rear defenses or houses; to rear one government on the ruins of another.
One reared a font of stone.
Rear
To lift and take up.
And having her from Trompart lightly reared,Upon his courser set the lovely load.
Rear
To bring up to maturity, as young; to educate; to instruct; to foster; as, to rear offspring.
He wants a father to protect his youth,And rear him up to virtue.
Rear
To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle.
Rear
To rouse; to stir up.
And seeks the tusky boar to rear.
Rear
To rise up on the hind legs, as a horse; to become erect.
Rear
The back of a military formation or procession;
Infantrymen were in the rear
Rear
The side of an object that is opposite its front;
His room was toward the rear of the hotel
Rear
The part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer;
He stood at the back of the stage
It was hidden in the rear of the store
Rear
The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on;
He deserves a good kick in the butt
Are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
Rear
The side that goes last or is not normally seen;
He wrote the date on the back of the photograph
Rear
Stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds;
The horse reared in terror
Rear
Bring up;
Raise a family
Bring up children
Rear
Rise up;
The building rose before them
Rear
Cause to rise up
Rear
Construct, build, or erect;
Raise a barn
Rear
Located in or toward the back or rear;
The chair's rear legs
The rear door of the plane
On the rearward side
Common Curiosities
How is "rare" used to describe food?
Rare typically describes meat that is lightly cooked, maintaining a soft and red center.
What does "rear" mean?
Rear refers to the back part or position of something.
Is "rare" always about physical objects?
No, rare can describe qualities, occurrences, or conditions that are uncommon or exceptional.
How does "rear" relate to military terminology?
In military contexts, rear refers to the part of an army located behind the main body, offering support.
Can something be both "rare" and in the "rear"?
While theoretically possible, the terms describe different attributes: rarity and position, respectively.
Can "rare" refer to people's abilities?
Yes, it can describe uncommon skills or traits, emphasizing their uniqueness.
What makes something "rare" in nature?
Its infrequency or the limited instances of occurrence in the natural world.
Can "rear" also mean to raise or nurture?
Yes, rear can mean to bring up and care for, especially in the context of raising children.
Is the "rear" of something always physical?
Primarily, yes, but it can also metaphorically refer to the less visible or supported aspects.
Can "rear" imply support roles beyond parenting?
Yes, it can include any kind of support or developmental role, even in professional contexts.
How does cooking influence the rarity of meat?
Cooking time and temperature determine the meat's rarity, with less cooking resulting in a rare steak.
Does "rear" have a directional component?
Yes, it specifically refers to the back or end direction of something.
How do collectors view "rare" items?
Collectors highly value rare items for their scarcity and uniqueness.
Why might someone prefer a rare steak?
For its texture and flavor, which are preserved with minimal cooking.
How do rarity and rear positioning affect value?
Rarity often increases value due to uniqueness, while rear positioning can relate to strategic or functional importance.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
