Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

bring up the rear

VERB
follow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accompany attend seek track
STRONG
catenate chase concatenate convoy dog draggle escort freeze hound hunt persecute search shadow shag spook stalk tag tail tailgate
WEAK
come with dog the footsteps of give chase go after go with onto put a tail on run after run down schlepp along stick to string along tag after tag along take out after
Antonyms
STRONGEST
neglect
STRONG
ignore leave alone let go run away
WEAK
avoid disregard go before lead misunderstand not get pass over precede scorn shun slight
VERB
trail
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chase fall behind falter lag pull
STRONG
dally dangle dawdle delay dog drag draggle draw droop extend flag halt hang haul hunt linger loiter plod poke procrastinate pursue shadow shag spook spoor stalk straggle stream tail tarry tow trace track traipse trudge
WEAK
bedog drop back fall back follow a scent hang back hang down nose out poke along string along tag along take out after
Antonyms
STRONG
advance carry on complete finish forward go hasten hurry ignore leave leave alone let go push rise run away rush shorten speed stop tiptoe
WEAK
lead

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That’s why, when you look at the chart, fruits and nuts bring up the rear, with something like 1 percent of the climate impact of beef.

From Washington Post • Feb. 28, 2023

The counties with the highest death rates bring up the rear in getting vaccinated.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 12, 2022

Then there’s average household income, where West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico bring up the rear.

From Washington Times • Jun. 24, 2020

Lina leads off, Jay follows, and I bring up the rear.

From The New Yorker • May 23, 2019

In the absence of any other guides, I volunteered to fill that role and bring up the rear.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer