reverse gear
noun
: a part (called a gear) that makes a motor move a vehicle in a backward direction
—sometimes used figuratively
The tractor does not have a reverse gear.
Put the car in/into reverse gear.
The economy seems to be stuck in reverse gear.
Examples of reverse gear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In one recall notice, Ford said the rearview cameras in certain Bronco and Edge vehicles may not display while in reverse gear. —
Melina Khan, USA Today, 6 Mar. 2026 With that reverse gear caused by Baker Mayfield’s struggles and bad red-zone defense, TB now finds itself in an NFC South mutt-fight with Carolina in a winner-take-all division that likely won’t see the runner-up with a wild-card spot. —Greg Cote december 10, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025 But the larger lesson of the recent purges is quite different: Putin lacks a reverse gear. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025 Interestingly, there's also a reverse gear to facilitate maneuvering the electric scooter and regenerative braking technology that transforms braking effort into electrical energy to help extend battery charge. —New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2025 The battery’s state of charge is always sufficient to start the engine and to operate the electric reverse gear. —Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024 But a new report issued by the AAA determined that drivers shouldn’t rely 100% on the technology’s effectiveness, and rather maintain a high level of diligence while operating in reverse gear, especially if their cross-traffic visibility is otherwise obscured. —Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
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.
Melina Khan, USA Today, 6 Mar. 2026 With that reverse gear caused by Baker Mayfield’s struggles and bad red-zone defense, TB now finds itself in an NFC South mutt-fight with Carolina in a winner-take-all division that likely won’t see the runner-up with a wild-card spot. —Greg Cote december 10, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025 But the larger lesson of the recent purges is quite different: Putin lacks a reverse gear. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025 Interestingly, there's also a reverse gear to facilitate maneuvering the electric scooter and regenerative braking technology that transforms braking effort into electrical energy to help extend battery charge. —New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2025 The battery’s state of charge is always sufficient to start the engine and to operate the electric reverse gear. —Jason Barlow, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024 But a new report issued by the AAA determined that drivers shouldn’t rely 100% on the technology’s effectiveness, and rather maintain a high level of diligence while operating in reverse gear, especially if their cross-traffic visibility is otherwise obscured. —Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Reverse gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/reverse%20gear. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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