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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Relevance

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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
Big money raised in Dearborn Heights in the race for mayor, with Council Chair Mo Baydoun raising more than $210,000. —Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Throughout the rest of the clip, Bob interviews a series of his friends before the show to get their predictions for how often Gaga will ask the crowd to raise their hands. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
But most unions have some ability to implement work stoppages and impose costs on employers to negotiate for raises and better benefits and conditions. —Skip Mark, The Conversation, 31 July 2025 The idea behind the experimental raise was to test whether better pay leads to more racially and economically diverse juries. —Denise Amos, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 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
  • Fauna, meanwhile, might be lifted from the wood-block prints of Watanabe Seitei.
    — Thessaly La Force, Architectural Digest, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The easiest way to determine root rot problems is to gently lift the entire plant, roots and all, free from its container, and inspect the roots.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Some homeowners are choosing to foster clovers, specifically white clovers, in their lawns alongside other turf or grass. Also known as Dutch clover, white clover (Trifolium repens) is known for small white flowers that flourish in Southern climates.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025
  • To promote neighborhood engagement and foster stronger connections within the community, the City of Valparaiso will host a Neighborhood Workshop and Summer Social from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Forest Park Welter Room, 1155 Sheffield Drive, Valparaiso.
    — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
Definition of foster
Verb
  • As a futurist, my role was to provoke fresh insight and decisive action.
    — Lisa Bodell, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Casey Durkin—Bravo While Jax, surely at the urging of producers, tried to provoke Kristen by questioning her fertility choices, nothing major happened in the premiere.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • The play elicited the loudest cheers from the crowd all night.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2025
  • The initial setback elicited some frustration from Moutet.
    — Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • The Haleiwa Hotel was erected at the mouth of the Anahulu River in 1899 and stood there for 44 years, in stark contrast to its rural surroundings.
    — Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The original bronze statue—the first in the world—was erected in 1980 at the same location but was moved indoors in 1996 to the downtown Memphis Tennessee State Welcome Center to protect it from the elements and over-adoring fans.
    — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • If your system requires constant work to function, look for a scalable solution that’s built to adapt, not break.
    — Tim Pratte, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Toyota also announced Thursday a plan to build a new vehicle factory in Japan, where car sales have been falling due to a shrinking population and declining ownership.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • Over the second quarter, B2B revenues grew 12.2 percent to total 262.4 million euros.
    — Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The investment will be plowed into the development of the company’s growing slate of film, TV, book, and commercial projects.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
Definition of grow
Verb
  • Other things like inadequate sleep and unhealthy lifestyle habits can exacerbate feelings of tiredness, reducing resilience and increasing the risk of burnout.
    — Nancy Pulciano, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
  • FEMco is dedicated to creating opportunities for female artists to increase their visibility and reach via events, sponsorships and more.
    — Jem Aswad, Variety, 6 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 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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