gear
gear — noun
1. A round wheel or disc with teeth around its edge that fits together with another
A round wheel or disc with teeth around its edge that fits together with another such wheel inside a machine. Together, sets of gears control how fast the moving parts turn and how much force is available.
A broken gear in the washing machine drum stopped it from spinning.
The bicycle's chain moves from one gear to another when Amihan changes the pedal speed.
collocation: change gears
Each gear inside the grandfather clock has a carefully measured number of teeth.
collocation: teeth of a gear
The car's gear system transfers engine power to the wheels through metal discs.
passive: be transferred through gears
- change gear
- shift gear
- gear teeth
- gear system
- gear mechanism
- gear wheel
- in gear
- out of gear
Usage Note
A single toothed disc is a gear; the whole system of connected gears is called gearing or the gear train.
Common Mistakes
2. The set of tools, clothing, and other items that you need for a particular sport
The set of tools, clothing, and other items that you need for a particular sport, hobby, job, or activity.
Adaeze packed all her camping gear, including the tent and sleeping bag.
collocation: camping gear / sports gear
Firefighters must check their safety gear before entering a burning building.
collocation: safety gear
The kitchen gear in the new restaurant includes industrial ovens and stainless steel counters.
Hao bought new fishing gear at the shop near the lake.
All the climbing gear — ropes, harnesses, and carabiners — was tested before the trip.
collocation: climbing gear
- camping gear
- fishing gear
- climbing gear
- safety gear
- protective gear
- sports gear
- military gear
Usage Note
Used without a or an. Often appears with a preceding noun describing the activity (camping gear, sports gear, fishing gear).
Common Mistakes
3. Casual word for clothes, especially when they are part of a particular style or
Casual word for clothes, especially when they are part of a particular style or look.
The punk band wore black leather gear covered in zips and chains.
informal register
Élise found some cool vintage gear at the second-hand market.
Christopher changed out of his work suit into casual gear for the evening.
collocation: casual gear
The dancers all wore matching gold gear for the carnival parade.
- casual gear
- party gear
- designer gear
- vintage gear
Usage Note
This sense is mainly British informal. In American English, outfit or clothes is preferred.
4. A slang term for illegal substances that people take for their mind-altering eff
A slang term for illegal substances that people take for their mind-altering effects.
The courts are trying to stop the trade of gear on the streets of London.
slang: gear = illegal drugs
The documentary showed how young people are tempted to buy gear from dealers.
Ziad's brother ended up in hospital after taking bad gear at the music festival.
Police found a large quantity of gear hidden in the back of the van.
- deal gear
- buy gear
- sell gear
Usage Note
Uncountable. This is British criminal slang; learners should recognise it but be cautious about using it.
5. The personal things someone keeps or carries with them.
The personal things someone keeps or carries with them.
Caleb packed all his gear into two suitcases before moving to Taipei.
When the boat sank, the sailors lost all their personal gear.
collocation: personal gear
The museum stores the historical documents with the rest of the archival gear.
Soldiers are told to keep their gear clean and properly organised at all times.
collocation: military gear (possessions)
- personal gear
- pack your gear
- leave your gear
- belongings
more common in everyday English, especially for personal items one carries
- possessions
more formal and broader, includes valuable items and property
6. A level of speed, effort, or activity, used in phrases that compare how fast or
A level of speed, effort, or activity, used in phrases that compare how fast or how hard someone is working.
After a slow morning, the team finally got into gear and finished the project.
idiom: get into gear = start working efficiently
When the deadline approaches, Paloma shifts gear and works twice as fast.
idiom: shift gear = change speed or approach
The economy moved into a higher gear after the new trade deal was signed.
idiom: move into a higher gear
Astrid's studies went into top gear during exam week.
The election campaign slipped out of gear after the candidate got sick.
idiom: slip out of gear = stop working well
- get into gear
- shift gear
- move into top gear
- slip out of gear
- in gear
Usage Note
Almost always appears in metaphorical fixed phrases: get into gear, shift gear, move into top/higher gear, slip out of gear.
Common Mistakes
A rude way to tell someone to hurry up.
Get your ass in gear or we'll miss the train.
If you don't move your ass, we'll be late for the meeting.
To start working effectively or to make something start working effectively.
After the holiday, it took me a while to get into gear.
The manager finally got the project into gear after weeks of delay.
To become out of control or not working properly.
The whole schedule slipped out of gear when the power went out.
Her emotions were thrown out of gear by the sudden news.
gear — verb
1. To put a set of toothed wheels into a machine so that it can transmit power from
To put a set of toothed wheels into a machine so that it can transmit power from one moving part to another.
The factory robot arm is geared with a precision set of steel wheels.
passive: be geared with [mechanism]
The engineers geared the new conveyor belt system to run at half the previous speed.
Each motor is geared so that it turns the axle at exactly the right rate.
Mark geared the hand drill by attaching a set of cogs to the handle.
- be geared with
- be geared to run
- fit with gears
a phrasal explanation rather than a single-word synonym; more transparent to learners
Grammar Patterns
be geared (with something)
Usage Note
Usually found in the passive form (be geared). The active form (to gear a machine) is very technical.
2. To link two or more mechanical parts together using toothed wheels so that the m
To link two or more mechanical parts together using toothed wheels so that the movement of one causes the other to move.
The pedals are geared to the back wheel through a chain and sprocket system.
passive: be geared to [part]
In this device, the motor is geared directly to the pump shaft.
The steering wheel is geared to the front wheels by a rack-and-pinion mechanism.
The clock's hour hand is geared to the minute hand so that both move together.
- be geared to
- be geared together
- connect
more general, not specific to gear mechanisms
Grammar Patterns
be geared to + noun
Usage Note
Frequently passive. The pattern 'A is geared to B' means A's movement is mechanically linked to B's movement.
3. To get yourself, someone else, or an organisation ready and equipped for a parti
To get yourself, someone else, or an organisation ready and equipped for a particular activity or event.
The school is gearing up for the annual sports day next month.
phrasal verb: gear up for
Ilan geared up with warm clothes and boots before heading into the snow.
phrasal verb: gear up (dress appropriately)
The company is gearing its team up to launch the new product in spring.
transitive: gear + object + up
Local businesses are gearing up for the tourist season with extra staff.
- gear up for
- gear up to
- geared up
- wind down
to gradually do less activity
Grammar Patterns
gear up
gear + object + up
gear up for + noun
gear up to + infinitive
Usage Note
Almost always used with the particle 'up' (gear up). The object can go before or after 'up': 'gear the team up' or 'gear up the team'.
Common Mistakes
4. When two toothed wheels fit into each other so that the movement of one turns th
When two toothed wheels fit into each other so that the movement of one turns the other.
The two cogs gear with each other at a ninety-degree angle.
grammar: gear with
The teeth of the smaller wheel gear smoothly into the larger one.
If the wheels do not gear properly, the machine will make a grinding noise.
The clutch must be fully engaged before the gears will gear together.
- gear with
- gear together
- gear into
- disengage
to separate gears so they no longer connect
Grammar Patterns
gear with + noun
gear together
Usage Note
Intransitive — the subject is a set of gears, and they gear with or into each other. The synonymous verb mesh is more common in everyday technical talk.
5. To design, organise, or adjust something so that it fits a particular group of p
To design, organise, or adjust something so that it fits a particular group of people, a specific need, or a desired result.
The new textbook is geared toward intermediate learners of English.
passive: be geared toward [audience]
Diya's fitness programme is geared to help beginners build strength safely.
passive: be geared to + infinitive
The restaurant geared its menu for families with young children.
Holiday courses are geared toward students who want to improve their exam scores.
The housing policy is geared to attract young professionals to the city centre.
- geared to
- geared toward
- geared for
- geared to meet
- geared towards
Grammar Patterns
be geared to + noun
be geared toward + noun
be geared for + noun
be geared to + infinitive
Usage Note
Most common in the passive voice (be geared). Active uses are rarer. Choose the preposition according to the complement: 'geared to' + infinitive or noun, 'geared toward' + noun, 'geared for' + noun.
Common Mistakes
6. To become naturally suited or adjusted to something else, so that the two things
To become naturally suited or adjusted to something else, so that the two things match or work well together.
The new employee's style of work did not gear with the team's fast pace.
grammar: gear with
The company's goals must gear with the needs of the local community.
Her teaching methods gear well with the school's focus on hands-on learning.
collocation: gear well with
The old rules no longer gear with the way the industry operates today.
- gear with
- gear well with
- clash
to be in conflict or not match
Grammar Patterns
gear with + noun
Usage Note
Intransitive — the subject adjusts or fits naturally. Do not confuse with the transitive sense (sense 5) where someone actively designs something for a purpose. Distinguish from sense 5: here no agent is adjusting; the things naturally match or fail to match.
7. To move the gear stick of a vehicle in order to change the relationship between
To move the gear stick of a vehicle in order to change the relationship between the engine speed and the wheel speed.
Christopher geared down as he approached the sharp bend in the road.
grammar: gear down = go to a lower speed range
You need to gear up before overtaking another car on the motorway.
grammar: gear up = go to a higher speed range
The driving instructor told Hao to gear into second at the corner.
grammar: gear into + [gear number]
Ilan geared down smoothly as the traffic lights turned red.
Adaeze learned to gear up early when driving up a steep hill.
- gear up
- gear down
- gear into
- gear to change speed
- shift
American English: 'shift into second gear'
Grammar Patterns
gear up
gear down
gear into + noun
Usage Note
Commonly used with particles: gear up (to a higher, faster gear), gear down (to a lower, slower gear), gear into (first/second/third). 'Shift gears' is far more common in American English; 'change gear' or 'gear up/down' is more British.
Common Mistakes
gear up
phrasal verbTo prepare yourself or someone else for a particular activity, often by gathering the necessary items or getting into the right mental state.
Paloma is gearing up for her final exams by studying every evening.
The company geared up its sales team for the busy holiday season.
gear (something) to / toward (something)
phrasal verbTo design or adjust something so that it matches a particular purpose, audience, or situation.
The training programme is geared toward people who have never used a computer before.
get into gear
idiomTo start working effectively or with the necessary level of energy and focus.
It took Caleb a few cups of coffee to get into gear this morning.
shift / change gear
idiomTo change the way you are doing something, especially to increase or decrease the level of speed, effort, or focus.
The team shifted gear and adopted a completely new marketing strategy.
After lunch, Mark changed gear and focused on writing the report.
slip out of gear
idiomTo stop working effectively or to become disorganised and less productive.
The whole project slipped out of gear when the lead designer resigned.
Word family
- gearingnounC1
- gearedadjectiveB2
- gearboxnounB2
- gearsticknounB2
- gear levernounB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All four words refer to items needed for a specific activity, but they differ in scope and context. Gear is the most casual, everyday word — you take camping gear on a trip or wear protective gear for sports. Equipment is the broadest and most neutral term, covering anything from a simple tool to a complex machine (gym equipment, laboratory equipment). Kit is chiefly British and suggests a collected set of items for one purpose (a first-aid kit, a tool kit, sports kit). Tackle is used almost exclusively for fishing and climbing gear (fishing tackle). Apparatus is the most formal and technical, used for scientific or specialised devices (laboratory apparatus, breathing apparatus). In everyday speech, gear and equipment are the safest choices: "Did you bring your swimming gear?" sounds natural, while "Did you bring your swimming apparatus?" would sound odd.
Common collocations
Etymology
Gear comes from Old Norse gervi or gǫrvi, meaning 'apparel, equipment.' It entered Middle English around the 13th century, initially referring to clothing and personal belongings. By the 14th century it had extended to mechanical equipment on ships, and by the 1800s it gained its modern mechanical sense of toothed wheels in machinery. The two core meanings — 'equipment' and 'toothed wheel' — developed from the same root idea of things that are prepared or fitted together.