arise

verb

ə-ˈrīz 

arose ə-ˈrōz  ; arisen ə-ˈri-zᵊn  ; arising ə-ˈrī-ziŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to begin to occur or to exist : to come into being or to attention

Problems arise when people try to avoid responsibility.

A conflict arose because of a misunderstanding.

Questions have arisen concerning the company's financial records.

He can defend himself should the need arise. [=if it becomes necessary to do so]

b

: to originate from a source

arteries that arise from the aorta

a river that arises from two main sources

2

: to get up or stand up : rise

He arose from his chair.

especially : to get up from sleep or after lying down

He arose (from bed) refreshed after a good night's sleep.

3

: to move upward : ascend

A mist arose from the valley.

Synonyms of arise

• wake
• rise
• roll out
• awake

Choose the Right Synonym for arise

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen

slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of arise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Stacy's body was cremated within two days of her death, but suspicion arose when Stacy’s mother reported that Hunsucker seemed unusually unfazed by the death and had moved in with a girlfriend shortly after. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026

Fear, in Robin’s view, is not simply a feeling that arises naturally in response to danger. —Stephanie A, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026

Both Khosla and OpenAI framed the need for a major policy overhaul around the massive change arising from the implications of the exponential improvement in AI tools. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026

Having an emergency fund is a great way to stay out of credit card debt in the future when unexpected expenses arise. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English ārīsan, from ā-, perfective prefix + rīsan to rise — more at abide

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for arise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise
• coastwise

Kids Definition

arise

verb

ə-ˈrīz 

arose -ˈrōz  ; arisen -ˈriz-ən  ; arising -ˈrī-ziŋ 

1

: to get up from sleep or after lying down

arising at dawn

2

a

: to begin at a source

arteries that arise from the aorta

b

: to come into being or to attention

a question arose

3

: to move upward

mist arose from the valley