rent 1 of 2

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

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2

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
But extracting rents is much easier than inventing new things. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026 Here is how to pull off a watch party your roommates will still bring up months later, without touching your rent money. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
The opinion from then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn delves into how homestead exemptions apply to a home that is being fully or partially rented out. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026 The cost of renting servers and chips grew by 300% over the same period. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rent
Noun
  • Like Linda, other community members wiped tears from their faces and embraced one another as photos and videos of Noel appeared on a stage screen.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026
  • By Monday, the girl who cried all those tears on her guitar will be both the youngest woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall, and youngest-member of the Nashville edition.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Democrats still have an advantage in voting by mail, but that gap is smaller than in 2022 as more Democrats shift to early in-person voting.
    — A Martínez, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The sell-off came despite the positive results, underscoring the gap between the treatment's clinical promise and investor expectations for its commercial potential.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • So when a new local food truck quickly leased the lot, solo style, promise refilled the air.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
  • While working for his family's auto-leasing company, Selig became a minority investor in the Milwaukee Braves, who played at County Stadium from 1953-65 and won two NL pennants and the 1957 World Series.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Jennifer Shuford, who had been Texas’s health commissioner, was part of a team hired to restore confidence in the agency.
    — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Spoelstra and May became even closer when the Heat hired his son, Jack May, as a video room intern a few years ago.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • John Whitney was this experimental filmmaker who had developed this technique called ‘slit scan,’ which would be a key element to the ‘Stargate’ sequence.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The double-slit experiment, for example, is a classic setup where scientists send particles through two gaps in a screen and observe a resulting interference pattern, proving that the particles act as waves.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • In higher-dimensional gravity, certain black-hole-like objects, such as black strings, can become unstable and fragment.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Sabbatini played his final six holes in 6-under par, which included his 25-foot eagle putt from the fringe on the par-5 15th hole.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • With its stunning views, retro-modern look, and prime location in the gritty-slash-bougie Meatpacking District, this hotel is anything but standard.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The comedian built a faithful-slash-rabid following on TikTok and YouTube and as part of the American High sketch troupe.
    — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Lisa Markidis has her face painted with La Catrina makeup at the official opening of the Dia De Los Muertos altars in Gloria Molina Grand Park.
    — Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Hellums broke free for a 41-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-1 run and Army took a 7-0 lead on the game's opening possession.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rent. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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