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
Stay hydrated: Since dry mouth raises gum disease risk, make sure to drink plenty of water. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025 Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025
Noun
Any rejection of pay raises this year would have only a marginal impact on the city’s budget crisis. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025 The Panthers given a man advantage is like Jeff Bezos getting a raise. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 23 May 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
  • At its core, AI promises to lift the burdens of inefficiency, confusion and repetition, freeing us to work smarter, live better and dream bigger.
    — Son Nguyen, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • 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
  • Use mindful mantras and relaxation practices to foster your spiritual growth.
    — Essence, Essence, 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
  • The measure elicited the strongest opposition from Republicans, who argued that even if the funds were private, the measure made use of taxpayer resources because of the work required by the Treasurer and his staff.
    — Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 30 May 2025
  • The survey elicited responses from 49 corporate executives from Fortune 1000 companies, some of whom cited pressure from the Trump administration and conservative activists.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • 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
  • According to the lawsuit, the Williamses erected a shed against the church’s fence.
    — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 30 May 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • Karl, 17, appeared on the first-team bench in the Bundesliga this season and will probably spend the next few years building experience at senior level away from Bayern.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • These are people who work hard, pay taxes, build communities and believe in the American dream.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 28 May 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
  • Mahan won his first term as mayor in 2022 with 51.3% of the vote after residents pushed to move the mayoral election to align with the presidential one to increase voter turnout.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2025
  • Tacoma did its own analysis and found that people with a regular housing voucher, and no time limit, actually fared better at increasing their incomes and moving on.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 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 10 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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