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
Hadid shares her four-year-old daughter, Khai, with musician Zayn Malik; Cooper is raising his seven-year-old daughter, Lea, with supermodel Irina Shayk. —Glamour, 4 May 2025 The state suspended the grocery tax for fiscal year 2022 to help fight rising inflation, but municipal leaders say losing the stream of revenue permanently forces them to consider cutting services, raising sales or property taxes, or implementing a local grocery tax. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2025
Noun
Next month, 911 call takers in the Kansas City Police Department will get a pay raise. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025 The raise proposal, which averages out to a 0.47% raise, doesn’t include the pay increase teachers will receive by moving up in the district’s salary schedule. —Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 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
  • To further lift morale, staff organised a barbecue at the training ground, which went down well with the players.
    — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • Colorful murals, many by women artists, greeted me at every turn; one by illustrator Brooke Smart, depicting women lifting each other up, reflects the ethos of the district.
    — Carley Thornell, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • This not only ensures a steady income stream but also fosters a sense of community and loyalty among your clients.
    — Doaa K. Darwish, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • The installation, as a whole, fosters a similar shift in perception.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
Definition of foster
Verb
  • The situation escalated when GUNTHER mentioned Goldberg's family, provoking the Hall of Famer to jump the security barricade.
    — Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
  • In years past, the school district’s funding request has provoked heated conversations about how much the county should fund.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • Trump's tariffs elicited retaliatory measures from some countries, including China.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • However, there was a clear exception in the responses of adults, where the toxic toads and very large frogs elicited much weaker responses than expected for their body size.
    — Logan S. James, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • Moscow also announced that monuments in Russia's Kursk region would be erected in honor of North Korea's soldiers fighting against Ukraine.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
  • The marble memorial featuring the names of the 56 football fans who died in the fire was erected as part of these 2001 developments.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • And when the focus shifts from guarding what’s been built to cultivating what’s possible next.
    — Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • At the same time, China has sought to join with other countries to build a united front against Trump, while ramping up its own countermeasures to the impact of Trump's tariffs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 May 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the demographic of older women is growing quickly.
    — Jean Wactawski-Wende, The Conversation, 2 May 2025
  • What’s more, over the past decade, attacks such as password spraying have grown increasingly effective at breaching sensitive networks, Microsoft’s own included.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
Definition of grow
Verb
  • The solid job gains in April also increase the odds that the Federal Reserve will keep its benchmark interest rate steady when policy makers meet next week on May 6-7, experts say.
    — Alain Sherter, CBS News, 2 May 2025
  • As time has passed, the cost of those renovations has increased.
    — Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 May 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 14 May. 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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