raise 1 of 2

verb

ˈrāz How to pronounce raise (audio)
Definition of raisenext
1
as in to lift
to move from a lower to a higher place or position he asked members of the audience to raise their hands if they had been to his show before

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2
as in to foster
to bring to maturity through care and education since she was only two when her mother died, the girl was raised mainly by her aunt

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3
as in to provoke
to bring (something volatile or intense) into being a proposal to cover the library's red brick with vinyl siding raised a mighty ruckus with those favoring historical preservation

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4
as in to elicit
to draw out (something hidden, latent, or reserved) the lawsuit raised old resentments that had never been completely extinguished

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5
as in to erect
to fix in an upright position the mattress will fit into the moving truck only if we raise it on its side

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6
as in to build
to form by putting together parts or materials raised a memorial on the site of the historic event

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7
as in to grow
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care raises ducks, geese, and other exotic fowl ultimately destined for the dinner table

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8
as in to increase
to make greater in size, amount, or number the multiplex raised the ticket price

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9
as in to promote
to move higher in rank or position he was recently raised to lieutenant in the fire department

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10
as in to introduce
to present or bring forward for discussion one member of the tour raised the subject of appropriate attire for visits to sacred sites in the Holy Land

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11
as in to express
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) too afraid to raise an objection

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raise

2 of 2

noun

as in increase
something added (as by growth) the school board approved a raise in the maximum family income for students qualifying for reduced-price lunches

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb raise contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of raise are boost, elevate, heave, hoist, lift, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

In what contexts can boost take the place of raise?

The synonyms boost and raise are sometimes interchangeable, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for raise?

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

elevated the taste of the public

When might heave be a better fit than raise?

In some situations, the words heave and raise are roughly equivalent. However, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When could hoist be used to replace raise?

The words hoist and raise can be used in similar contexts, but hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

When is it sensible to use lift instead of raise?

Although the words lift and raise have much in common, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

How do rear and raise relate to one another?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

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 raise
Verb
The key to raising emotionally resilient kids is the ability to repair. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025 Less than two days before their deaths, the police received a call reporting threats of murder and suicide at the campsite, raising questions about how the earlier call was handled. —Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
His insistence on a raise, while CSX shares fell, frustrated directors this spring. —Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025 Aaron Gordon also has a $9 million raise going into effect next season. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for raise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raise
  1. lift
  2. foster
  3. provoke
  4. elicit
  5. erect
  6. build
  7. grow
  8. increase
Verb
  • Mpisi said that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both helped clean her up and lift her spirits after the spill.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2025
  • On your straight leg, tighten the muscles on the front of your thigh and slowly lift your leg to the height of your bent knee or slightly higher.
    — Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • But fostering creativity, curiosity, and empathy are also essential for organizations to remain competitive and resilient.
    — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
  • For example, address personal medical risks and goals with specific preventive steps, such as fostering meaningful relationships to reduce stress or adopting a heart-healthy diet to reduce the risk of heart disease.
    — Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of foster
Verb
  • Mercury in Sagittarius provokes your mind to venture into uncharted territory.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
  • His art form is chaos, and the unrestrained fear that chaos can provoke.
    — The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • The viral photos and videos of the destruction have elicited strong emotions for many Americans.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • But the piece de resistance is a small button on the face of the guitar that, when pressed, activates a chip on a soundboard that elicits the distinctive roar of Godzilla.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • The end of a building erected in the 1940s?
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Louisiana's governor on Monday night called on the state's largest university to erect a statue memorializing Charlie Kirk.
    — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Lea has built a culture of belief while competing against programs with more resources.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The discovery of the body reinvigorated the investigation, with prosecutors previously building their case against Barry before Suzanne's body had been discovered.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • Morelli turned to the drug as a result of his growing addiction to OxyContin, which he had been prescribed following back surgery, wrote Joslin.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Hunter has set himself a very fine amount of emotional and physical space within which to work, and there’s pleasure in watching Metcalf and Stock negotiate the tiptoeing way Sarah and Ethan grow closer.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of grow
Verb
  • The cuts come after Chegg in May laid off 22% of its workforce, citing increasing adoption of AI.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025
  • With increasing space traffic from various nations and private companies, keeping tabs on potential collisions and threats becomes crucial.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of increase

Phrases Containing raise

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rainy day
raise
raise Cain
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Cite this Entry

“Raise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raise. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on raise

Nglish: Translation of raise for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about raise

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