raise

1 of 2

verb

ˈrāz 

raised; raising

transitive verb

1

: to cause or help to rise to a standing position

2

a

: awaken, arouse

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

Synonyms

Verb

• boost
• crane
• elevate
• heave
• heft
• heighten
• hike
• hoist
• jack (up)
• lift
• perk (up)
• pick up
• take up
• up
• uphold
• uplift
• upraise

Noun

• accretion
• accrual
• addendum
• addition
• augmentation
• boost
• expansion
• gain
• increase
• increment
• more
• plus
• proliferation
• rise
• step-up
• supplement
• uptick

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

Example Sentences

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

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Since being found guilty in January of lying to investors to raise money for her blood-testing startup, Holmes spent much of the intervening time pushing for a new trial, then begging not to have to go to jail. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2023

The pair later teamed up to raise money for a prostate cancer charity. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2023

This involves both parties fully participating to raise the money for their wedding and reception. —Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2023

Strikes disrupted train services, flights, schools and businesses in France on Thursday as more than one million people protested against the government’s plans to raise the retirement age for most workers. —Joseph Ataman, CNN, 19 Jan. 2023

This involves both parties fully participating to raise the money for their wedding and reception. —Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023

In 2022, Kutcher ran the New York Marathon to raise money for the foundation. —Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2023

The layoff follows a massive 50 percent employee cut in October, as Starry has failed to raise enough money to continue expanding its wireless Internet service. —Aaron Pressman, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Jan. 2023

One of his more recent tasks included revamping the municipality’s holiday party to include employees more in its charitable giving, selling raffle tickets to raise money for a local nonprofit nominated by staff. —Ray A. Smith, WSJ, 18 Jan. 2023

Noun

The new four-year contract includes an immediate 15 percent pay raise, which covers increases for 2013, 2014 and 2015 while the contract was being negotiated. —Dallas News, 18 Jan. 2023

The nomination was announced on Dec. 22, when the Legislature had returned to Albany to give itself a $32,000 pay raise — a move that required the governor’s approval and could have been used to help her with Mr. LaSalle. —Jesse Mckinley, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2023

Those included the same 19.1 percent pay raise, retention of health-care benefits and improved nurse-patient staffing ratios. —Julian Mark, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2023

The company in April 2022 announced a $100 million capital raise from Abry Partners, led by Hartbeat’s Randolph. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Jan. 2023

This could impact their annual raise, their bonus and the likelihood of future opportunities. —Stacey Hanke, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022

The more bullish profit guidance comes even as Delta recently reached a tentative labor agreement with its pilots that would grant them a 34% raise, including backpay, over the next three years. —Alicia Wallace, CNN, 14 Dec. 2022

The union representing university staff want an above-inflation pay raise, better pension benefits, and an end to excessive workloads. —Amanda Shendruk, Quartz, 8 Dec. 2022

Among their demands: a 20% raise over the next two years. —Ryan Fonsecastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022

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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

Phrases Containing raise

• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet
• raise the ante
• raise a family
• raise the roof
• raise the white flag
• re-raise
• rear/raise its ugly head
• raise some hackles
• raise the possibility
• raise/lower the temperature
• raise a ruckus
• raise one's voice
• raise a ruckus/fuss/stink
• raise/sound the alarm
• fund-raise
• raise eyebrows
• raise Cain
• raise the bar
• raise hell

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• put/stick/raise one's head above the parapet
• raise the ante
• raise a family
• raise the roof
• raise the white flag
• re-raise
• rear/raise its ugly head
• raise some hackles
• raise the possibility
• raise/lower the temperature
• raise a ruckus
• raise one's voice
• raise a ruckus/fuss/stink
• raise/sound the alarm
• fund-raise
• raise eyebrows
• raise Cain
• raise the bar
• raise hell

See More

Kids Definition

raise

1 of 2 verb

ˈrāz 

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