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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Critics say the sequence is built upon dubious data, overlooks racial disparities and shames students who are raised in single-parent households. —Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026 Supporters organized a vigil and raised $300,000 that kept the family and business afloat while the shop was closed — and paid legal bills. —Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
The Dodgers will pay the tour guides a grand total of about $650,000 in 2026 — $170,000 of that reflecting the raise of about $3,000 per person. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026 Since coming from the Saints to the Bengals on a four-year, $60 million contract, Hendrickson consistently outplayed his deal and earned two pay raises. —Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 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
  • OpenAI is reportedly eyeing a valuation at over $800 billion, and Google parent Alphabet has seen its stock soar over 60% in the past year, lifting its market cap to $4 trillion.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The couple who followed them—two shirtless men, around the same height, alternately lifting each other up and rolling over each other with playful, affectionate aggression—struck me as equally political, suggesting not just what was banned but what was possible.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Over the past five years, Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) has invested heavily in its American relationships, strategically increasing the number of US buyers and press on its hospitality program, to foster US retail growth for its brands and tap into rising demand.
    — Andrea Bossi, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Aside from hosting the clinical symposiums and raising awareness, Tucker said the conferences foster a sense of community among people touched by Alström syndrome.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of foster
Verb
  • His allies would say the victim had provoked their own death and blame Democrats for inciting the violence.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
  • In the main event of SmackDown, Trick Williams defeated Damian Priest by DQ after provoking Sami Zayn.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • To keep yourself safe, remember that the purpose of contrast therapy is to elicit a specific physiological response, not test your willpower.
    — Caroline Tien, SELF, 3 Feb. 2026
  • This last part seemed to be a joke, eliciting a peal of laughter from his wife.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • This approach still erects a financial barrier for the hundreds of thousands of San Diego County residents who have supported Balboa Park institutions for generations.
    — Judy Gradwohl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Emergency-response teams quickly erected two tent camps in the neighborhood, giving local residents a place to warm up and charge their phones.
    — Michael Holtz, New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Engineers built the platform to scale across mission profiles.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Importantly, it was built to work no matter the weather, wind, or altitude the torch would encounter on its over 7,000-mile-long journey from Olympia, Greece to Milan, Italy.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of build
Verb
  • His relationship with his Jewish neighbors, the Brodskys, grows closer as Nazi power corrupts France.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • As the fungi grew, their root-like structures, called mycelium, acted as a natural biological glue.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of grow
Verb
  • The program will start with 3,000 volunteers to be selected next summer and will gradually increase to 10,000 per year by 2030.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Allowing its use on these two common crops will drastically expand how much is applied and increase harm, advocates say.
    — Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of increase

Phrases Containing raise

Browse Nearby Words

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 9 Feb. 2026.

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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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