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
The incident with Lauren had understandably raised questions on whether Weezer’s set would still happen. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025 In return, the Chinese government raised tariffs on the U.S. by 50 percent, bringing the overall level to 84 percent. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
Iglesias, the city manager at the time, told the Miami Herald in a recent interview that Menendez was the person who initiated the raise proposal. —Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 Plumas County employees had voiced concern about not receiving pay raises, leading to staff departures that prosecutors said affect residents’ safety. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 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
  • This practice can foster a better relationship with your child and help with childhood language and cognitive development.
    — Yvette Thompson-Echevarria, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This approach fosters a hybrid workforce, where human expertise and AI agents collaborate seamlessly to enhance both efficiency and innovation.
    — Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of foster
Verb
  • Brit, still processing, clocks that Kenya was angling for a full-on meltdown, trying to provoke her into playing the aggressor.
    — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Tariffs essentially act as an indirect tax on consumers, provoke retaliatory measures, drive inflation higher, and destabilize financial markets.
    — Christian Catalini, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • Regardless of the finer points of the legal arguments, the mere fact of Barrett’s position was enough to elicit vocal dismay from Trump loyalists.
    — Niall Stanage, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The chicken jockey is already a fan favorite from the movie, with its appearance eliciting whoops and hollers from audiences.
    — Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • When the basilica was erected, Constantinople, perched at the eastern end of the European continent and named after emperor Constantine the Great, was one of the most important capitals of Christendom.
    — Danuta Hamlin, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The two-story stone building, which also served as a church and school, was erected at a cost of $329.75.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • The volatile security situation is now combined with the perception, if not the reality, that Iran is preparing to build nuclear weapons.
    — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Runway also made headlines in the fall for a deal with Lionsgate, in which the studio is using Runway’s tech to build a model trained exclusively on Lionsgate IP.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 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
  • This tree definitely has a flair for the dramatic, performing well throughout the South, displaying flowers up to 1 foot wide, growing as tall as 80 feet (depending on selection), featuring glossy evergreen foliage, and exuding a captivating scent that draws your attention.
    — Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of grow
Verb
  • Tesla has increased North American sourcing for parts of many models over the last two years, which would decrease tariff exposure for the E41, two people aware of the matter said.
    — Abhirup Roy, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Those unused hours can, however, be converted to service credit to increase their government pensions.
    — Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles 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 24 Apr. 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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