rearview mirror
noun
rear·view mirror
ˈrir-ˌvyü- 
variants
or rearview
plural rearview mirrors or rearviews
1
: a mirror (as in an automobile) that gives the driver a view of the area behind a vehicle
The air fresheners that dangle from rearview mirrors have been a ubiquitous accessory in cars for decades.—
Mike Baker and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs
Mike Baker and Nicholas Bogel-BurroughsAnother car's headlights appeared in her rearview—the first she'd seen since … turning onto Route 60.—Erin Brockovich and C. J. Lyons
Erin Brockovich and C. J. Lyons2
: past entry 3
—used in phrases like in the rearview mirror, in one's rearview mirror and in one's rearview
With the midterm elections barely in the rearview mirror, the competition is heating up among states trying to move up in the presidential primary lineup.—Alex Seitz-Wald and Natasha Korecki
Alex Seitz-Wald and Natasha KoreckiSiakam was coming off shoulder surgery as well. … But Siakam put all that in his rearview mirror and never looked back, finishing with career highs in rebounds and assists …—Mike Ganter
Mike GanterAfter Zayn Malik abruptly departed from One Direction in 2015, he largely left the band in his rearview.—Larisha Paul
Larisha Paul… [rappers] Killer Mike and El-P, both of whom had left rap's zeitgeist in their rearviews long ago …—Tom Breihan
Tom BreihanExamples of rearview mirror in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Forward thinking The loss to the Hornets was the Heat’s most-lopsided of the season, which quickly had Spoelstra putting it in his team’s rearview mirror.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
This is a rearview mirror sport.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
With the Oscars now in the rearview mirror, cinephiles can now turn all of our attention to the upcoming slate of 2026 films.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026
With those two wins, TCU changed the trajectory of its season and put the loss to New Orleans in the rearview mirror.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rearview mirror
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.
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
This is a rearview mirror sport.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
With the Oscars now in the rearview mirror, cinephiles can now turn all of our attention to the upcoming slate of 2026 films.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026
With those two wins, TCU changed the trajectory of its season and put the loss to New Orleans in the rearview mirror.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rearview mirror
Cite this Entry
“Rearview mirror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rearview%20mirror. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rearview mirror
noun
rear·view mirror
ˌri(ə)r-ˌvyü-
: a mirror (as in a car) that gives a view to the rear
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
