rise

1 of 2

verb

ˈrīz 

rose ˈrōz  ; risen ˈri-zᵊn  ; rising ˈrī-ziŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to assume an upright position especially from lying, kneeling, or sitting

b

: to get up from sleep or from one's bed

2

: to return from death

3

: to take up arms

rise in rebellion

4

: to respond warmly : applaud

—usually used with to

the audience rose to her verve and wit

5

chiefly British : to end a session : adjourn

6

: to appear above the horizon

the sun rises at six

7

a

: to move upward : ascend

b

: to increase in height, size, volume, or pitch

8

: to extend above other objects

mountain peaks rose to the west

9

a

: to become heartened or elated

his spirits rose

b

: to increase in fervor or intensity

my anger rose as I thought about the insult

10

a

: to attain a higher level or rank

officers who rose from the ranks

b

: to increase in quantity or number

11

a

: to take place : happen

b

: to come into being : originate

12

: to follow as a consequence : result

13

: to exert oneself to meet a challenge

rise to the occasion

rise

2 of 2

noun

ˈrīz 

also

ˈrīs 

1

a

: a spot higher than surrounding ground : hilltop

b

: an upward slope

a rise in the road

2

: an act of rising or a state of being risen: such as

a

: a movement upward : ascent

b

: emergence (as of the sun) above the horizon

c

: the upward movement of a fish to seize food or bait

3

: beginning, origin

the river had its rise in the mountain

4

: the distance or elevation of one point above another

5

a

: an increase especially in amount, number, or volume

b

chiefly British : raise sense 3b

c

: an increase in price, value, rate, or sum

a rise in the cost of living

6

: an angry reaction

got a rise out of him

7

: the distance from the crotch to the waistline on pants

Synonyms

Verb

• accelerate
• accumulate
• appreciate
• balloon
• boom
• build up
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• climb
• enlarge
• escalate
• expand
• gain
• increase
• mount
• multiply
• mushroom
• proliferate
• roll up
• snowball
• spread
• swell
• wax

Noun

• advancement
• ascent
• creation
• elevation
• preference
• preferment
• promotion
• upgrade
• upgrading

Choose the Right Synonym for rise

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 rise in a Sentence

Verb

Smoke was rising into the air.

Bubbles rose to the surface of water.

The tide rose and fell.

The land rises as you move away from the coast.

a tower rising above the little town

a politician who rose to fame very quickly

The book has risen to the top of best-seller lists.

People are angry about rising gasoline prices.

The market is continuing to rise.

The wind rose in the afternoon.

Noun

We watched the rise and fall of the waves.

The book describes the empire's rise and fall.

the meteoric rise of the Internet

a politician's rise to fame

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Strong floral aromatics as well as aromas of marshmallows, candy cane, Tunisian rose and buttered toast in this wine with 12.8 percent alcohol. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

If sea levels continue to rise, urban areas may have to consider taking drastic action to prevent flooding and other disruption to city life. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025

Noun

The Queen abdicated her position in January 2024 on the 52nd anniversary of her rise to the throne, becoming the first Danish royal to voluntarily do so in almost 900 years. —Jillian Frankel, People.com, 12 May 2025

The way Yamal is handling his rise does not cease to amaze. —Pol Ballús, New York Times, 12 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English rīsan; akin to Old High German rīsan to rise

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

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

Phrases Containing rise

• get a rise out of
• give rise to
• high rise
• his/her/their/my/our spirits rise
• low-rise
• make someone's gorge rise
• make someone's hackles rise
• mid-rise
• on the rise
• rise above
• rise again
• rise and shine
• rise from the dead
• rise in someone's estimation
• rise through the ranks
• rise to the challenge
• rise to the occasion/challenge
• rise (up) in revolt

Rhymes for rise

• ais
• ayes
• buys
• cries
• dies
• dries
• dyes
• eyes
• flies
• fries
• grise
• guys

Kids Definition

rise

1 of 2 verb

ˈrīz 

rose ˈrōz  ; risen ˈriz-ᵊn  ; rising ˈrī-ziŋ 

1

a

: to get up from lying, kneeling, or sitting

b

: to get up from sleep or from one's bed

2

: to return from death

3

: to take up arms

the people rose in rebellion

4

: to appear above the horizon

sun rises at six

5

a

: to move upward : ascend

smoke rises

b

: to extend upward

hill rises to a great height

6

: to swell in size or volume

the river was rising

bread dough rises

7

a

: to become encouraged

their spirits rose

b

: to grow stronger

felt her anger rising

8

a

: to gain a higher rank or position

rose to colonel

b

: to increase in quantity or number

prices were rising

9

a

: arise sense 2b

an ugly rumor had risen

b

: to come into being : originate

river rises in the hills

10

: to show oneself equal to a demand or test

rise to the occasion

rise

2 of 2 noun

ˈrīz 

1

: an act of rising : a state of being risen

2

: beginning sense 1, origin

3

: the distance of one point above another

4

: an increase in amount, number, or volume

5

a

: an upward slope

b

: a spot higher than surrounding ground

6

: an angry reaction