climb

1 of 2

verb

ˈklīm 

climbed; climbing; climbs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to go upward with gradual or continuous progress : rise, ascend

watching the smoke climb

b

: to increase gradually

prices are continuing to climb

c

: to slope upward

a climbing path

2

a

: to go upward or raise oneself especially by grasping or clutching with the hands

climbed aboard the train

b

of a plant : to ascend in growth (as by twining)

Ivy is climbing up the walls of the old building.

3

: to go about or down usually by grasping or holding with the hands

climb down the ladder

4

: to get into or out of clothing usually with some haste or effort

the firefighters climbed into their clothes

transitive verb

1

: to go upward on or along, to the top of, or over

climb a hill

2

: to draw or pull oneself up, over, or to the top of by using hands and feet

children climbing the tree

3

: to grow up or over

ivy climbing the wall

climbable

ˈklī-mə-bəl 

adjective

climb

2 of 2

noun

1

: a place where climbing is necessary to progress

steep climbs

2

: the act or an instance of climbing : rise, ascent

It's a 20-minute climb to the ridge from here.

Synonyms of climb

Verb

• scramble
• ascend
• clamber

Noun

• ascent
• ascension

Examples of climb in a Sentence

Verb

He dreams of climbing Kilimanjaro.

It took them six days to climb the mountain.

She has climbed seriously for several years now.

The actors were climbing down from the stage.

He climbed over the fence.

The passengers of the sailboat climbed aboard.

The pilot climbed into the cockpit.

I think she climbed in through the window.

He climbed out of the car with a box in his hands.

Noun

It's a 20-minute climb to the ridge from here.

He's planning to attempt one of the most difficult climbs in South America this summer.

The book made a rapid climb to the top of the best-seller list.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The vines climb to about 6 feet tall, growing vigorously even through summer heat. —Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2026

These attractive plants thrive indoors and look wonderful cascading from a container or climbing up a trellis. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026

Noun

Perhaps no one understands the ambition of a coach who reached this NFL peak after a steep climb than a West Virginia kid who arrived as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd University. —Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

The Celtics continued their climb up the Eastern Conference standings Monday night, routing the Chicago Bulls to claim sole possession of second place. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English climban; probably akin to Old English clifian to adhere — more at cleave

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing climb

• climb down
• free-climb
• hill climb

Rhymes for climb

• chime
• chyme
• clime
• crime
• dime
• grime
• lime
• lyme
• mime
• prime
• rhyme
• slime

Kids Definition

climb

1 of 2 verb

ˈklīm 

1

a

: to rise gradually to a higher point

climb from poverty to wealth

b

: to slope upward

the road climbs steeply to the summit

2

a

: to go up or down often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling

b

: to go upward in growing (as by winding around something)

a climbing vine

climbable

ˈklī-mə-bəl 

adjective

climber

-mər

noun

climb

2 of 2 noun

1

: a place where climbing is necessary

2

: the act of climbing