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
To bring China to the negotiating table, Trump has repeatedly raised tariffs on Chinese imports—prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own measures. —Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025 Exposure can also raise the risk of conditions including certain cancers, stroke, asthma, preterm births, dementia, depression and anxiety. —Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
The United Football Players Association has hammered out its first collective bargaining agreement with the UFL, ratifying a two-year pact that includes a pay raise and a health care provision that extends into the offseason. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The district did not present recommendations for teacher raises to the board on Monday, and Harry noted that discussion about raises for teachers are handled through the negotiation process. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 10 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
  • Firefighters had to call in a crane to lift the dump truck off the Ford Ranger.
    — Frank Fernandez, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The obliging royalty would lift their hems and give the crowd a glimpse of their sneakers and cowboy boots.
    — Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • She was sent to a shelter in Winston-Salem, N.C., which was in desperate need of people to foster the dogs coming from Asheville.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The initiative aims to foster climate resilience and sustainable development.
    — GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Definition of foster
Verb
  • Trump’s comments have provoked a strong reaction, including boycotts on U.S. goods and protests.
    — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • These tales were layered, open to interpretation, and meant to provoke reflection and herein lies their enduring power.
    — Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • Just the mention of the legislation was enough to elicit applause and cheers from the audience.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • For his part, the father read this situation well by engaging with his son without overreacting to a scenario that would understandably elicit strong emotions in many parents.
    — Christian Dashiell, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • Construction equipment whines as workers erect towering bleachers in a downtown park.
    — Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The smoke that wafts from the chimney is created using chemical pellets that are burned in another stove that's connected to the stovepipe chimney, which is temporarily erected atop the Sistine Chapel just for that purpose.
    — Christopher Watson, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Combined with technology companies strengthening their security features, the momentum for these eco-friendly digital tools continues to build.
    — Allison Begalman, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
  • That was followed by a post-credits scene that revealed the mysterious pieces of machinery Cassian and his fellow inmates were being forced to build at the Imperial prison were being used to construct the Death Star.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • Ortega said balances grew during the pandemic as workers — and the rest of America — weren’t able to travel as easily for vacation.
    — Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • In the late 1960s, some physicists speculated that singularities might be surrounded by a region of churning chaos, where space and time haphazardly grow and shrink.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Wired News, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of grow
Verb
  • If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be? (1) Infrastructure in forms of roads and increased police and fire due to the growing population.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • What Murray did in the second half was increase his aggression off the dribble.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 20 Apr. 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 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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