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
Broward teachers, other school district employees get 3% raises Eyeing a friendly Supreme Court, Republicans push for the Ten Commandments in schools Trump vowed to leverage federal money to fight antisemitism. —South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025 Costco raised membership prices in September 2024 for the first time since 2017. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
The $70 million Series D raise announced in October 2024 contributed to $168 million raised to date. —Simon Mainwaring, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 The remaining $17 million in cuts are due to inflationary costs and staff raises, Wood said. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 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
  • As India’s young population enters the workforce, the middle class is expected to expand, consumption is projected to increase, and the country could be lifted from poverty.
    — Garth Friesen, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The Tampa Bay Young shared the invitation on social media Thursday as the two brothers arrived in Florida after Romanian prosecutors lifted a two-year travel ban.
    — Ewan Palmer, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Allowing your children to make age-appropriate decisions can foster their autonomy, and take the burden off of parents in the long run when their kids are able to problem solve and make challenging decisions on their own.
    — Taylor Grothe, Parents, 26 Feb. 2025
  • With this appointment, Moda looks to engage a digitally savvy, social-first audience, fostering the next generation of dedicated fashion fans to discover Trunkshow.
    — Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of foster
Verb
  • Even the revelation that settlement talks have been held has provoked news staffers.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The earworm record provokes a sense of longing, one that is uplifting, cathartic and beautiful.
    — Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of provoke
Verb
  • For the last few seasons, few brands have elicited a more emotional response to their shows than Chloé.
    — Irina Grechko, refinery29.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Another brand that elicited an aura of femininity through the creation of the romance on the runway was N°21.
    — Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of elicit
Verb
  • Wooden posts were erected on the site at some point, but the stone monument that remains today was begun around 2500 B.C.E. Adjustments were made to the positions of the smaller, inner bluestones 200 to 300 years later.
    — Hannah Edgar, ARTnews.com, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The Los Angeles Dodgers, for example, have erected a dedicated transportation hub behind centerfield for public transportation and rideshare.
    — Candace Oehler, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of erect
Verb
  • And now, thanks to this contract, Evans can look to build some more permanence in Montreal.
    — Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The government says selling citizenship will help raise the funds needed for a plan to move 90% of the island’s around 12,500-strong population onto higher ground and build an entirely new community.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of build
Verb
  • The Atlanta Fed believed the U.S. GDP was on track to grow throughout most of February, with estimates ranging from positive 2 to nearly 4 percent.
    — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • While the old guard will probably stick to their traditional knitting, there is a growing new guard with a much more open mind.
    — Mike Dojc, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of grow
Verb
  • Israel has also increased public funding for projects by Israeli filmmakers from West Bank settlements — the very enterprise that the film No Other Land criticizes as taking over Palestinian homes and land.
    — Nuha Musleh, NPR, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The proposal would increase the budget of the seven SODCs by about $28 million, or almost 5%.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of increase

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Cite this Entry

“Raise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/raise. Accessed 12 Mar. 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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