# rent

/ˈɹɛnt/ (US) · /ɹˈɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. payment for housing

noun · CEFR A2

the money you pay regularly to live in a house or apartment that belongs to someone else.

For teachers: a regular payment made by a tenant to a landlord for the use of property or land.

- The rent for my apartment is due on the first day of every month.
- Skyrocketing property values in the city centre have forced many small business owners to struggle with monthly rent increases.

### 2. a rip or tear

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a large hole or rip in a piece of cloth or other material.

For teachers: a large tear or opening in a garment or fabric; often used metaphorically for a division.

- He noticed a small rent in the sleeve of his expensive jacket.
- The sudden political scandal created a deep rent in the fabric of the party, leading to a permanent internal division.

### 3. to pay to use something

verb · CEFR A2

to pay money so that you can use something for a short time, like a car or a flat.

For teachers: to pay for the temporary use of a property, vehicle, or piece of equipment owned by another party.

- We decided to rent a car for our trip so we could see the countryside.
- The production company chose to rent high-end camera equipment rather than purchasing it outright for the three-week shoot.

### 4. to be priced at

verb · CEFR B2

to be available to use for a specific price.

For teachers: to be leased or let for a specific sum of money; used intransitively.

- Small apartments in this area usually rent for about one thousand dollars.
- Commercial spaces in the new development are expected to rent for significantly more than the current market average.

### 5. torn apart

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

torn or ripped into pieces.

For teachers: having been forcefully pulled apart or torn; the past participle of the verb 'rend'.

- The sails were rent by the strong winds during the storm.
- The silence of the valley was suddenly rent by a piercing cry that echoed off the canyon walls.

## Examples

- The rent for this apartment is very high.
- Many young professionals in the city spend more than half of their monthly salary on rent and utilities.
- Economists often distinguish between the market rent of a property and the controlled rates set by local government to ensure housing remains affordable for low-income residents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.