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 lineup was personally curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay to benefit FIFA Global Citizen’s Education Fund, which launched in April with a mission to raise $100 million for children’s education and soccer programs all over the world. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 9 June 2025 The sudden engagement, with the wedding set to occur in just two weeks, raises suspicions among Tiffany’s parents, Brian (also portrayed by Perry) and his ex-wife Debrah (Taja V. Simpson). —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 June 2025
Noun
In addition to Ekblad, center Sam Bennett is also a pending free agent and will be due a hefty pay raise from his current deal that is paying him an average of $4.425 million per season. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025 The raises are cost-of-living adjustments included in state law, though past legislatures have voted to freeze their own pay — a move that has drawn legal challenges. —Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 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
  • But after President Joseph R. Biden Jr. lifted the bans in January 2021, travel from those countries — and from Chad, Libya and Yemen — more than rebounded.
    — Allison McCann, New York Times, 5 June 2025
  • But the restrictions haven’t been lifted, causing intense displeasure inside the Trump administration and prompting a recent series of measures imposed on China, three administration officials told CNN last week.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Use mindful mantras and relaxation practices to foster your spiritual growth.
    — Essence, Essence, 2 June 2025
  • Instead, it should be embedded into the entire organization with security-minded professionals integrated into multiple teams to foster a more resilient and proactive security stance.
    — Travis Runty, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Definition of foster
Verb
  • Negotiating with someone who is trying to provoke you is their tactic.
    — John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • Daily life in the villa is punctuated by games and challenges, designed to reveal secrets, provoke drama and test the strength of relationships.
    — Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • This is not something meant to elicit praise, surprise, disgust or a call from my gastroenterologist.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • That assessment is likely to elicit wide eyes and snarky responses across college football, but her case comes with an important caveat.
    — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 5 June 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • According to the lawsuit, the Williamses erected a shed against the church’s fence.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 30 May 2025
  • The regular season is winding down this month, but the Summer for the City festival is coming up, and a crew is erecting a stage near the central fountain.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 30 May 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Former combatants in Colombia’s long-standing internal conflict are increasingly being lured to Mexico by criminal groups to train hitmen, build bombs and fight bloody turf battles.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Being transparent in this way helps build trust and demonstrates a genuine dedication to improvement.
    — Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • In the decades since, PEOPLE has grown to become the iconic brand it is known as today — expanding from a newsstand-only publication to now include digital news coverage and social media coverage, as well as a new app, among other ventures.
    — Nicholas Rice, People.com, 8 June 2025
  • In addition, administrative staff positions at most universities and colleges has grown faster than faculty.
    — Paul Weinstein Jr, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of grow
Verb
  • Add depth to a fence to increase its effectiveness.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
  • Speaking to journalists in March, Mark Bullingham, who replaced Glenn as CEO in 2019, explained how the FA had used the pre-grown pitches and increased major-event cap to grow Wembley’s revenues.
    — Matt Slater, New York Times, 7 June 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 16 Jun. 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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