Gear — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈgir/

Meaning & Definition of Gear

Gear (noun)

  1. clothing, garments
  2. movable property, goods
  3. equipment, paraphernalia

Gear (verb)

  1. to provide (machinery) with gearing
  2. to connect by gearing
  3. to make ready for effective operation

Gear (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. items needed for the performance of a task or activity

    "grabbed his gear, threw on his pads, and headed out to the football field for practice"

    similar: accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, hardware, kit (chiefly British), material(s), matériel, outfit, paraphernalia, stuff, tackle
    related: accessories, appurtenances, attachments, fittings, baggage, belongings, impedimenta, appliances, facilities, instruments, machinery, tools, apparel, attire, habiliments, raiment, trappings, armamentarium, armory, arsenal, battery, assets, resources

  2. transportable items that one owns

    "you can store your gear in the overhead bin during the flight"

    similar: belongings, chattels, duds, effects, goods, holdings, movables, paraphernalia, personal effects, personal property, personalty, plunder (chiefly dialect), possession, stuff, things
    related: treasures, valuables, appointments, fixtures, furnishings, estate, property, tangibles, collateral
    near: immovables, real estate

  3. covering for the human body

    "the latest in kid gear"

    similar: apparel, attire, clobber (British slang), clothes, clothing, costumery, dress, duds, garments, habiliment(s), habit (archaic), rags, raiment, rig, rigging, threads, toggery, togs, vestiary, vestments, vesture, wear, wearables, weeds
    related: garderobe, wardrobe, array, bravery, caparison, finery, gaiety, glad rags, pretties, regalia, trim, foofaraw, frippery, gaudery, tawdry, trumpery (archaic), tatters, costume, ensemble, frock, garb, getup, guise, livery, outfit, civvies, mufti, couture, prêt-à-porter, ready-to-wear, tailoring, activewear, loungewear, outerwear, playwear, sportswear, nightclothes, sleepwear, smallclothes, underclothes, underwear, haberdashery, menswear

Gear (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in match, model

    similar: customize, match, model, pattern, acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adapt, adjust, condition, conform, doctor, edit, fashion, fit, put, shape, suit, tailor, readapt, readjust, attune, correct, harmonize, square, tune, establish, root, settle, acquaint, familiarize, orient, orientate, equip, prepare, prime, rehearse, harden, inure, season, toughen, alter, convert, make over, modify, recast, reclaim, recycle, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refashion, refigure, refit, refocus, reinvent, rejigger, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, transform
    opposite: misadjust

Related Entry: Gear up (verb)

Gear up is a different word from Gear. The synonyms below are for gear up, not for gear.

  1. as in mount, gather

    similar: batten, gather, mount, brace, fortify, gird, steel, educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, train, tutor, fit, fix, groom, lay, prep, prepare, ready, boot (up), prime, arrange, set, spread, arm, equip, forearm, furnish, outfit, provide, supply, incline, predispose, draft, draw up, frame, warm (up)

Related Entry: In gear (adjective)

In gear is a different word from Gear. The synonyms below are for in gear, not for gear.

  1. as in in force, on line

    similar: in commission, in force, on line, active, alive, functional, functioning, going, live, living, on, operating, operational, operative, running, working
    opposite: broken, dead, inactive, inoperative, kaput, nonactivated, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative, deactivated, decommissioned, ineffective, ineffectual, useless, inoperable, unusable, unworkable, arrested, asleep, dormant, fallow, idle, inert, latent, lifeless, nonproductive, quiescent, sleepy, stagnating, unproductive, vegetating

Related Entry: Rain gear (noun)

Rain gear is a different word from Gear. The synonyms below are for rain gear, not for gear.

  1. as in rainwear

    similar: rainwear, mac (British), mackintosh (chiefly British), oilskin, raincoat, slicker, waterproof (chiefly British), poncho, sou'wester, trench, trench coat

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Gear

The most common words with a similar meaning to Gear:

Chiefly British: kit
Chiefly dialect: plunder
British slang: clobber
Archaic: habit
accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, hardware, material(s), matériel, outfit, paraphernalia, stuff, tackle, belongings, chattels, duds, effects, goods, holdings, movables, personal effects, personal property, personalty, possession, things, apparel, attire, clothes, clothing, costumery, dress, garments, habiliment(s), rags, raiment, rig, rigging, threads, toggery, togs, vestiary, vestments, vesture

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Gear

Words with the opposite meaning of Gear:

misadjust

Related Words for Gear

accessories, appurtenances, attachments, fittings, baggage, impedimenta, appliances, facilities, instruments, machinery, tools, habiliments, trappings, armamentarium, armory, arsenal, battery, assets, resources, treasures, valuables, appointments, fixtures, furnishings, estate, property, tangibles, collateral, garderobe, wardrobe

Near Antonyms of Gear

immovables, real estate

Word Forms of Gear

Inflections: geared, gearing, gears

Derived words: gearless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Gear

Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, gǫrvi; akin to Old English gearwe equipment, clothing, gearu ready yare

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Gear

Words & Phrases Containing Gear

gear up, arresting gear, bevel gear, differential gear, fixed-gear bike, high gear, landing gear, reduction gear

Frequently Asked Questions about Gear

What does "Gear" mean?

"Gear" means clothing, garments. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: clothing, garments. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Gear"?

Other words for "Gear" include accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, hardware, kit, material(s), matériel and outfit. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Gear" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Gear"?

There are 181 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Gear". Common alternatives include accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, hardware, kit, material(s), matériel, outfit, paraphernalia and stuff.

What is the opposite of "Gear"?

Antonyms of "Gear" include misadjust. Near antonyms include immovables and real estate.

How do you use "Gear" in a sentence?

Examples of "Gear" in a sentence: "grabbed his gear, threw on his pads, and headed out to the football field for practice"; "you can store your gear in the overhead bin during the flight"; "the latest in kid gear".

Is "Gear" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Gear" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Gear" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Gear" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Gear"?

"Gear" is pronounced /ˈgir/.