rise above
phrasal verb
rose above; risen above; rising above; rises above
1
: to not allow oneself to be hurt or controlled by (something bad or harmful)
It's time to rise above petty bickering/politics.
2
: to be or become better than (something)
The quality of the food never rises above average.
Examples of rise above in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite a solid cast and some decent jokes, the series rarely rises above the level of pleasantly unobjectionable, much less distinctly memorable.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Could Koreans rise above their differences to rebuild their nation?
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Salmon, for one, said Congress must rise above their differences.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Visible all month after dark, this four-star formation rises above the eastern horizon, signaling the change of seasons.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rise above
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.
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Could Koreans rise above their differences to rebuild their nation?
—Kornel Chang
september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
Salmon, for one, said Congress must rise above their differences.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Visible all month after dark, this four-star formation rises above the eastern horizon, signaling the change of seasons.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rise above
Cite this Entry
“Rise above.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rise%20above. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share