rise above
phrasal verb
rose above; risen above; rising above; rises above
1
: to not allow oneself to be hurt or controlled by (something bad or harmful)
It's time to rise above petty bickering/politics.
2
: to be or become better than (something)
The quality of the food never rises above average.
Examples of rise above in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is also pretty but not always energetic imagery filmed in different referenced parts of the current American wilderness — snow gathering in fields, mist rising above mountaintops — and never-energetic shots of re-enactors loading muskets or preparing for battle.
—
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
The coldest temperatures are forecast to be in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where highs will struggle to rise above freezing and lows will be in the teens, maybe the single digits, over the weekend, the Weather Prediction Center said.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
All Detroiters need to rise above this and celebrate and support each other because, regardless of race, creed or religion, many of our ancestors knowingly or unknowingly helped to fight for our country’s independence.
—Scott Talley, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Sometimes hawks rise above Helm’s whirling bar cloud – opportunists.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rise above
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
The coldest temperatures are forecast to be in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where highs will struggle to rise above freezing and lows will be in the teens, maybe the single digits, over the weekend, the Weather Prediction Center said.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
All Detroiters need to rise above this and celebrate and support each other because, regardless of race, creed or religion, many of our ancestors knowingly or unknowingly helped to fight for our country’s independence.
—Scott Talley, Freep.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Sometimes hawks rise above Helm’s whirling bar cloud – opportunists.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rise above
Cite this Entry
“Rise above.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rise%20above. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share