raise

1 of 2

verb

raised; raising

transitive verb

1
: to cause or help to rise to a standing position
2
a
b
: to stir up : incite
raise a rebellion
c
: to flush (game) from cover
d
: to recall from or as if from death
3
a
: to set upright by lifting or building
raise a monument
b
: to lift up
raise your hand
raise sunken treasure
c
: to place higher in rank or dignity : elevate
d
: heighten, invigorate
raise the spirits
e
: to end or suspend the operation or validity of
raise a siege
4
: to get together for a purpose : collect
raise funds
5
a
: grow, cultivate
raise cotton
b
: to bring to maturity : rear
raise a child
c
: to breed and bring (an animal) to maturity
6
a
: to give rise to : provoke
raise a commotion
b
: to give voice to
raise a cheer
7
: to bring up for consideration or debate
raise an issue
8
a
: to increase the strength, intensity, or pitch of
don't raise your voice
b
: to increase the degree of
c
: to cause to rise in level or amount
raise the rent
d(1)
: to increase the amount of (a poker bet)
(2)
: to bet more than (a previous bettor)
e(1)
: to make a higher bridge bid in (a partner's suit)
(2)
: to increase the bid of (one's partner)
9
: to make light and porous
raise dough
10
: to cause to ascend
raise the dust
11
: to multiply (a quantity) by itself a specified number of times
raise two to the fourth power
12
: to bring in sight on the horizon by approaching
raise land
13
a
: to bring up the nap of (cloth)
b
: to cause (something, such as a blister) to form on the skin
14
: to increase the nominal value of fraudulently
raise a check
15
: to articulate (a sound) with the tongue in a higher position
16
: to establish radio communication with

intransitive verb

1
dialect : rise
2
: to increase a bet or bid
raiser noun

raise

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of raising or lifting
2
: a rising stretch of road : an upward grade : rise
3
: an increase in amount: such as
a
: an increase of a bet or bid
b
: an increase in wages or salary
4
: a vertical or inclined opening or passageway connecting one mine working area with another at a higher level
Phrases
raise Cain or raise hell
1
: to act wildly : create a disturbance
2
: to scold or upbraid someone especially loudly
raised hell with the umpire
raise eyebrows
: to cause surprise or mild disapproval
raise the bar
: to set a higher standard
new software that raises the bar for competitors
Choose the Right Synonym for raise

lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost mean to move from a lower to a higher place or position.

lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

Examples of raise in a Sentence

Verb Raise your hand if you know the answer. Raise your arms above your head. He raised his head and looked around. She raised her eyes from her book and stared at him. He raised the cup to his lips and drank. I raised the lid and peeked inside. Let's raise the windows and get some fresh air in here. We raised the flag to the top of the pole. I carefully raised her to a sitting position. She raised herself onto her knees. Noun the school board approved a raise in the maximum family income for students qualifying for reduced-price lunches See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Join Meghan and Amy Joyce, the On Parenting editor, every other Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET, for a live chat to answer questions from parents trying to raise kids of any age. Amy Joyce, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023 But just raising the potential of a deal shows how media companies that are struggling to adapt to changes in technology and consumer behavior are forced to ponder moves once considered inconceivable. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023 The issues raised by the report highlight the difficulties policymakers face in governing AI, a source of both huge potential commercial value and many risks. Will Henshall, Time, 21 Sep. 2023 The Fed’s dot plots were raised for 2024 and 2025, while continuing to indicate another rate increase this year, says Michael Wan, senior currency analyst at MUFG Bank, in a research report. WSJ, 21 Sep. 2023 But my biggest dream, more than collecting platinum albums and Grammys, was to raise my sons with their father. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2023 In May, ahead of the expiration of the Covid-era Title 42 restriction, US Customs and Border Protection encountered more than 8,000 people daily and had around 25,000 migrants in custody, raising alarm within the Biden administration. Priscilla Alvarez, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023 Headline of the day DeSantis' anti-Covid comments give him ‘momentum’ on the campaign trail Sept. 13, 202304:13 Ron DeSantis' descent continues, unabated by the debate and time on the trail At the same time, the Florida governor is racing to raise money in Texas and California. Mark Murray, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2023 The TikTok star often shares glimpses of how her parents — dad Thomas Earle, mom Alisa Earle and stepmom Ashley Dupré — work together to raise her and her younger siblings. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
Noun
The news follows months of reporting that White was angling for her first pay raise in almost 20 years. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2023 Over the same period, CEO pay at the Big Three Detroit automakers — GM, Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis — has jumped an average of 40%, or roughly how much of a raise striking workers are now demanding. Allison Morrow, CNN, 18 Sep. 2023 The Big Three are offering about a 20 percent raise. CBS News, 17 Sep. 2023 On Saturday, Stellantis detailed its latest offer for cumulative raises of nearly 21% in hourly wages, roughly in line with proposals from Ford and GM. David Koenig, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2023 Starting in 2007, workers gave up cost-of-living raises and defined benefit pensions for new hires. Tom Krisher, ajc, 16 Sep. 2023 The United Auto Workers, or UAW, has demanded a 46% raise for workers over the next four years. Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2023 Stellantis said its most-recent proposal to United Auto Workers includes raises of nearly 21% over the course of the contract and an immediate 10% pay increase, CNBC reports. NBC News, 16 Sep. 2023 The two sides have been bargaining for more than seven months without measurable agreement on key issues, including cost of living raises, class sizes, teacher planning time and how to handle students whose behavior repeatedly disrupts classrooms. oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'raise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English reisen, raisen, from Old Norse reisa — more at rear

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of raise was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near raise

Cite this Entry

“Raise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raise. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

raise

1 of 2 verb
raised; raising
1
: to cause to rise
raise a window
raise dust
2
a
: awake entry 1, arouse
enough noise to raise the dead
b
: to recall from or as if from death
c
: to stir up : incite
raise a rebellion
3
a
: to set upright by lifting or building
raise a monument
b
: to lift up
raise your hand
c
: to place higher especially in rank : promote
was raised to captain
d
: heighten sense 1, invigorate
raise the spirits
4
: collect entry 2 sense 1b
raise funds
5
a
: to look after the growth and development of : grow
raise hogs
raise corn
b
: bring up sense 1, rear sense 3b
raise a child
was raised in the city
6
: bring about
raised a laugh
7
: to bring to notice
raise an issue
8
a
: to increase the strength of
don't raise your voice
b
: to increase the amount of
raise the rent
c
: to increase a bid or bet
9
: to make light and airy
raise dough
10
: to multiply a quantity by itself a specified number of times
raise two to the fourth power
11
: to bring into sight on the horizon by approaching
raised land at last
12
: to cause to form on the skin
raise a blister
raiser noun

raise

2 of 2 noun
1
: an increase in the amount of a bet or bid
2
: an increase in pay

More from Merriam-Webster on raise

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