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 and in one's rearview mirror
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
Despite billions of dollars of investment, fuel cell cars in the US are disappearing in the rearview mirror, overtaken by battery-electric models and stalled by hydrogen shortages and soaring fuel prices.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Just a few hours before the bridge collapsed, Scott delivered his State of the City address, promising residents that the worst was in the city’s rearview mirror.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
Salvation Mountain juts out candy-colored in my rearview mirror.
—Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024
Being one of the most relevant and evolving alternative indie labels generally means always looking ahead and never spending too much time in the rearview mirror.
—Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
And the economy continues to hum, with the recession forecasts that dominated last year well in the rearview mirror.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024
In April 2022, California State Library and California State Parks launched the three-year pilot program that handed out the passes — hangtags that fit over a vehicle’s rearview mirror — to all public library branches across the state, including mobile libraries.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024
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Snow is in the rearview mirror, for now
Snow chances are nil until perhaps Friday, at the earliest.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
With Succession now in the rearview mirror, Kieran Culkin is looking ahead to his next project — and even fielding offers on the red carpet.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2024
Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
Just a few hours before the bridge collapsed, Scott delivered his State of the City address, promising residents that the worst was in the city’s rearview mirror.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
Salvation Mountain juts out candy-colored in my rearview mirror.
—Jonah Gercke, SPIN, 15 Mar. 2024
Being one of the most relevant and evolving alternative indie labels generally means always looking ahead and never spending too much time in the rearview mirror.
—Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
And the economy continues to hum, with the recession forecasts that dominated last year well in the rearview mirror.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024
In April 2022, California State Library and California State Parks launched the three-year pilot program that handed out the passes — hangtags that fit over a vehicle’s rearview mirror — to all public library branches across the state, including mobile libraries.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024
Please follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Snow is in the rearview mirror, for now
Snow chances are nil until perhaps Friday, at the earliest.
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024
With Succession now in the rearview mirror, Kieran Culkin is looking ahead to his next project — and even fielding offers on the red carpet.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rearview mirror.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rearview mirror
Cite this Entry
“Rearview mirror.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rearview%20mirror. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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
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