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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

11

raise

2 of 2

noun

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
Style Capital’s 11 investments since its founding have helped raise Benaglia’s profile globally. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026 Some homeowners still ‘locked in’ Mortgage rates have remained stubbornly above 6% since the Federal Reserve began aggressively raising interest rates in 2022 to combat inflation. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
Faculty had received raises in each of the last four academic years. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 This plays a larger role than pay raises, which can be achieved without new funding or policies. — Kellie Lauth, Forbes.com, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for raise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for raise
Verb
  • When strands are dry or damaged, the cuticle lifts and starts pulling water from the air, which is why the same head of hair can look glossy in January and a halo of static by August.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
  • That will help lift the local content in CEER cars from around 18% to 45% by 2034.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Those efforts have done little to foster bipartisan relationships during his first term, Gray said.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • However, for Khoueiry, the week in October is not about competition but an opportunity to foster sisterhood.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • At the start of the war, many economists and analysts feared that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz would provoke an acute energy crisis and economic downturn, or worse.
    — RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Tom Cruise‘s Digger is being called a very big swing of a dramatic satire that’s provoking very mixed reactions after the film’s first press screenings.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The question of whether people from the current system should help lead the transition elicits strong emotions among Cuban exiles.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … ‘MIND-BLOWING HYPOCRISY’ — Mass UN walkout elicits fiery response from Netanyahu in New York speech.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • However, there's a planet-sized difference between sending a 1,025-kg (2,260-lb) craft, the heaviest of the rovers, and sending enough materials to erect a functional building.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Back in August, the singer’s team erected a pop-up merch shop on the same quiet downtown block that houses Slotnick’s cookbook store, which has been in business for 30 years.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Last October, OpenAI announced plans to partner with a local company to build a data centre powered by clean energy costing up to $25 billion.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 24 Sep. 2026
  • At a time when the race to build the best frontier models is center stage, the competition to establish the next hardware platform is shaping up to be just as important.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The spare was also flat, and the patch kit had grown legs and walked away.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Merz, 70, became Germany's leader 16 months ago with promises to turn around an economy that has barely grown in years.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Repeating that process places significant stress on components, increasing operational and capital costs due to the risk of failure, maintenance requirements and downtime.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Simply increasing your intake of legumes, which includes beans, may be an effective way to drop body fat.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 25 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Raise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raise. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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