Definition

1. Noun:

   • A payment for temporary use: A regular payment made by a tenant (lessee) to an owner (lessor) for the use of property, land, or equipment.
   • A tear or split: An opening or hole made by tearing or splitting something apart. (This is a separate, less common meaning derived from the verb "rend".)

2. Verb:

   • To pay for temporary use: To make regular payments to an owner for the use of property, land, or equipment.
   • To grant temporary use for payment: To allow someone to use your property, land, or equipment in exchange for regular payments.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Payment):

  • The monthly rent for the apartment is due on the first.
  • He couldn't afford the rent on the storefront.

• Noun (Tear):

  • There was a large rent in the fabric of the old sail.

• Verb (To pay):

  • We decided to rent a car for our vacation.
  • She rents a small studio in the city center.

• Verb (To grant use):

  • They rent their cottage to tourists during the summer.
  • The company rents out industrial equipment.

Advanced Usage

• "For rent": Available to be rented.

  • The sign on the lawn said "Apartment for rent".

• "Rent out": To make something available for others to rent.

  • He rents out his garage as a storage space.

• "Rent strike": A collective refusal by tenants to pay rent, usually as a protest.

  • The tenants organized a rent strike to demand better maintenance.

Variants and Related Words

• Rental (n/adj): The act of renting or something that is rented. ()
• Renter (n): A person who pays rent; a tenant.
• Lease (n/v): A formal contract for renting property, often for a fixed term. (A close synonym in legal contexts).

Synonyms

• Hire (v): To pay for the temporary use of something, especially common in British English for vehicles or equipment.
• Let (v): To allow someone to use property in exchange for rent, common in British English. ()
• Charter (v): To rent a vehicle, especially an aircraft or boat, for exclusive use.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Rent out: To allow someone to use something you own in return for payment.
  • They are renting out their house while they travel.

Related Idioms

• "More trouble than it's worth": This concept is sometimes expressed as something not being worth the rent it would command, implying low value.
  • That old car isn't worth the garage space it rents. (Implied idiom)

Noun

1. the act of rending or ripping or splitting something
   • he gave the envelope a vigorous rip
2. the return derived from cultivated land in excess of that derived from the poorest land cultivated under similar conditions
3. an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart
   • there was a rip in his pants
   • she had snags in her stockings
4. a payment or series of payments made by the lessee to an owner for use of some property, facility, equipment, or service

Verb

1. hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services
2. engage for service under a term of contract
   • We took an apartment on a quiet street
   • Let's rent a car
   • Shall we take a guide in Rome?
3. grant use or occupation of under a term of contract
   • I am leasing my country estate to some foreigners
4. let for money
   • We rented our apartment to friends while we were abroad