rent 1 of 2

noun

Definition of rentnext
1
as in tear
a long deep cut getting her skirt caught on a nail resulted in a four-inch rent that she couldn't possibly repair

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) peered through the rent in the old garden wall for a glimpse of her mysterious new neighbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

rent

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to lease
to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment we rented the apartment to a college student for $500 a month

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to hire
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum will need to rent a car while we're in Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rent different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rent are charter, hire, lease, and let. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
will not rent to families with children

Where would charter be a reasonable alternative to rent?

The words charter and rent can be used in similar contexts, but charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

How are the words hire and let related as synonyms of rent?

Both hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer
decided to let the cottage to a young couple

When would lease be a good substitute for rent?

The meanings of lease and rent largely overlap; however, lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of rent
Noun
However, the lifestyle is also part of a growing issue in popular digital nomad destinations, like Lisbon, Portugal, where their presence is driving up rent prices, as landlords find the short-term rental game provides much larger profits than renting long-term. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2025 This leaves me increasingly anxious, especially as my parents, who currently help me with tuition and rent, are getting older and can’t continue working much longer. —Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
The latest Marvel superhero adventure – starring Anthony Mackie in his first solo Cap movie – will be available April 15 to buy and rent on digital platforms (Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Amazon and more) and May 13 on 4K Blu-ray/DVD. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025 Watch Bad Boys for Life on Amazon Prime Video (to rent) Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) Bad Boys: Ride or Die finds the detective duo on a serious mission once again. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rent
  1. tear
  2. gap
  3. lease
  4. hire
  5. slit
  6. hole
  7. slash
  8. opening
Noun
  • After 11 years of perseverance and determination, Rory McIlroy finally secured his elusive Grand Slam win, donning the iconic green jacket with tears of joy streaming down his face.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
  • That’s when the Blazers went on a tear, winning 10 of 11 games.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of tear
Noun
  • Over time, the gap between Clifford Davis and the rest of Fort Worth ISD has widened today, where less than 1 in every 10 students is reading and doing math on grade level.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The median home price is a benchmark for how much a U.S. home costs, which is largely driven by the gap between housing supply and homebuyer demand.
    — Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of gap
Verb
  • The state will lease Laurel Park racetrack for three years at a cost of one dollar per year.
    — Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Enfield Council owns the land the tree was located on, and it is leased to Toby Carvery.
    — Olivia Kemp, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of lease
Verb
  • Since hiring French manager Wilfried Nancy in 2023, the Crew have been consistently pleasing to the eye.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The news also comes after Prince William made a questionable decision to hire his mother, Princess Diana’s divorce lawyers.
    — Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of hire
Noun
  • Not content just to confirm its arrival, Veach deftly sliced a slit in the plastic to minimize any potential forensic trail, removed the new game and swapped in the old version before carefully rewrapping it.
    — Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Reviewers did debate if the slit was too high or not, but that can vary from person to person depending on your own height and modesty preferences.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of slit
Noun
  • One obstacle the Bengals face in their quest for postseason play, however, is the outbreak of injuries that started in spring training and have created a significant hole in their offense.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
  • One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms, which depicted a goblet, a platter, and a round piece of bread with a hole in it, similar to a Jerusalem bagel.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of hole
Noun
  • House committees, for example, are mandated to find at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, while Senate panels have to find at least $4 billion in slashes — a fraction of the House’s amount.
    — Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Hazel can pull, push, and even infiltrate the minds of the opposing spirits using her abilities, dodging and diving to avoid rogue slashes or a demonic helping of sludge.
    — Sarah Thwaites, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of slash
Noun
  • As Major League Baseball teams around the country were preparing their fields for Thursday's opening day, the Kansas City Royals decided to call up SB Mowing.
    — Will Ujek, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The Royals put their opening day crowd of 39,393 through a ringer Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of opening

Browse Nearby Words

renowns
rent
rentable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rent. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rent

Nglish: Translation of rent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rent

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