climb 1 of 2

verb

ˈklīm How to pronounce climb (audio)
Definition of climbnext
1
as in to scramble
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling visitors should use caution when climbing over the wet rocks along the shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to rise
to move or extend upward smoke from the cabin climbing in the still mountain air

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to increase
to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number complaints to the cable company climbed after the changeover

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

climb

2 of 2

noun

as in ascent
the act or an instance of rising or climbing up a long hard climb up the mountain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of climb
Verb
The fest’s closure arrives as Cayton-Holland continues to climb the national entertainment ladder. — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 16 July 2026 As the pair were climbing back into the Lunar Module to prepare to fly home to Earth, Aldrin hit the module’s circuit breaker switch with the life support backpack on his spacesuit. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Noun
The climb became steeper as the summit loomed ahead, and the sun burned brighter. — John Blake, CNN Money, 19 July 2026 For thrill-seekers, adventure tours, such as the Hall Crawl or Guts and Glory, offer hands-on spelunking experiences through muddy passages and challenging climbs. — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for climb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climb
  1. scramble
  2. rise
  3. increase
  4. ascent
  5. ascend
  6. soar
  7. accelerate
  8. ascension
Verb
  • Fast forward to July’s heatwave and Senate Republicans are scrambling to schedule a floor vote.
    — Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Benton’s departure also leaves Democrats scrambling to replace their nominee in one of the state’s more competitive House districts.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of scramble
Verb
  • Officials said the warning systems built since last year’s catastrophic floods were activated in Kerr County in the early hours before water levels began to rise, allowing for people to react quickly to flooding threats.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • On linear television, the series is up +62% among adults 18-49, +26% among adults 25-54 and +30% in total viewers, with P2+ viewing across VOD platforms rising +44% within seven days of airing.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 16 July 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • In recent months, drone sightings in Nikopol have increased from two or three per day to about three every hour, day and night, Varytsev says.
    — Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Homelessness after incarceration increases the chances that someone will end up back behind bars, at a steep cost to taxpayers.
    — Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of increase
Noun
  • In those moments, Hahn turned off his variometer, which beeps to signal the rate of ascent or descent, leaving him in a silent communion with the birds around him, shaped like arrows with a wingspan of some 16 inches.
    — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 19 July 2026
  • In a press kit released before the flight, the company said its primary objective for the launch was to complete a successful liftoff, clear the the tower at the launch site, and gather maximum data during ascent.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 July 2026
Definition of ascent
Verb
  • After being moved from guard to tackle before training camp last season, Thomas quickly ascended up the depth chart.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • One of the children, a boy wrapped only in a towel, fled the riverbank in a panic and ascended to the road as the adults were drowning.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of ascend
Verb
  • And then, suddenly, a male orca soared into view, belly up, and smashed his head into the dead fish.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 23 July 2026
  • As underwater temperatures continue to soar in South Florida, the coral shuffle has begun.
    — Alex Harris July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of soar
Verb
  • Engineers believe exposing robots to everyday activities such as cooking will accelerate their development for applications beyond manufacturing, including hospitality, retail, healthcare, and domestic assistance.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
  • This transformation is not the product of any single administration, although recent political polarization has accelerated it.
    — John Eger, Mercury News, 17 July 2026
Definition of accelerate
Noun
  • No one else’s sudden Hollywood ascension has been more deserved.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • If successful, Nix could continue his ascension and Denver could remain among the AFC contenders.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of ascension

Browse Nearby Words

climaxing
climb
climb (aboard)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Climb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climb. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on climb

Nglish: Translation of climb for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All