Definition of 'raise'

Word Frequency

raise

(reɪz )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense raises , present participle raising , past tense, past participle raised

1. verb

If you raise something, you move it so that it is in a higher position.

He raised his hand to wave. [VERB noun]

She went to the window and raised the blinds. [VERB noun]

Milton raised the glass to his lips. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]

...a small raised platform. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: lift, move up, elevate, uplift More Synonyms of raise

2. verb

If you raise a flag, you display it by moving it up a pole or into a high place where it can be seen.

They had raised the white flag in surrender. [VERB noun]

At midnight, the German flag will be raised over the Reichstag. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: hoist, put up More Synonyms of raise

3. verb

If you raise yourself, you lift your body so that you are standing up straight, or so that you are no longer lying flat.

He raised himself into a sitting position. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]

She raised herself on one elbow. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]

Synonyms: set upright, lift, elevate More Synonyms of raise

4. verb

If you raise the rate or level of something, you increase it.

The Republic of Ireland is expected to raise interest rates. [VERB noun]

Two incidents in recent days have raised the level of concern. [VERB noun]

...a raised body temperature. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: increase, reinforce, intensify, heighten More Synonyms of raise

5. verb

To raise the standard of something means to improve it.

...a new drive to raise standards of literacy in Britain's schools. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: improve, boost, enhance, upgrade More Synonyms of raise

6. verb

If you raise your voice, you speak more loudly, usually because you are angry.

Don't you raise your voice to me, Henry Rollins! [VERB noun]

Anne raised her voice in order to be heard. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: make louder, heighten, amplify, louden More Synonyms of raise

7. countable noun

A raise is an increase in your wages or salary.

[US]

Within two months Kelly got a raise.

regional note: in BRIT, use rise

Synonyms: rise, pay increase, increment More Synonyms of raise

8. verb

If you raise money for a charity or an institution, you ask people for money which you collect on its behalf.

...events held to raise money for Help the Aged. [VERB noun + for]

All funds raised will be used by Children With Leukaemia. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: collect, get, gather, obtain More Synonyms of raise

9. verb

If a person or company raises money that they need, they manage to get it, for example by selling their property or by borrowing.

They raised the money to buy the house and two hundred acres of grounds. [VERB noun]

10. verb

If an event raises a particular emotion or question, it makes people feel the emotion or consider the question.

The agreement has raised hopes that the war may end soon. [VERB noun]

The accident again raises questions about the safety of the plant. [VERB noun]

...a joke that raised a smile on everyone's lips. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: cause, start, produce, create More Synonyms of raise

11. verb

If you raise a subject, an objection, or a question, you mention it or bring it to someone's attention.

The debate was not long but all the issues were raised. [VERB noun]

He had been consulted and had raised no objections. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: put forward, suggest, introduce, advance More Synonyms of raise

12. verb

Someone who raises a child looks after it until it is grown up.

My mother was an amazing woman. She raised four of us kids virtually singlehandedly. [VERB noun]

...the house where she was raised. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: bring up, develop, rear, foster More Synonyms of raise

13. verb

If someone raises a particular type of animal or crop, they breed that type of animal or grow that type of crop.

He raises 2,000 acres of wheat and hay. [VERB noun]

...a perfectly cooked farm-raised chicken. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: grow, produce, farm, rear More Synonyms of raise

14. to raise the alarm

15. to raise your eyebrows

16. to raise a finger

17. to raise hell

18. to raise a laugh

19. to raise the roof

usage note: You should be careful not to confuse the verbs raise and rise. Raise is a transitive verb and usually followed by an object, whereas rise is an intransitive verb and not followed by an object. Rise can also not be used in the passive. ...the government's decision to raise prices... The number of dead is likely to rise. Both raise and rise can be used as nouns to mean pay increase. Raise is used in American English, and rise is used in British English. Millions of Americans get a pay raise today. ...a rise of at least 12 per cent.

More Synonyms of raise

Video: pronunciation of
raise

raise in British English

(reɪz )

verb (mainly tr)

to move, cause to move, or elevate to a higher position or level; lift

to set or place in an upright position

to construct, build, or erect

to raise a barn

to increase in amount, size, value, etc

to raise prices

to increase in degree, strength, intensity, etc

to raise one's voice

to advance in rank or status; promote

to arouse or awaken from or as if from sleep or death

to stir up or incite; activate

to raise a mutiny

9. See raise Cain

10.

to give rise to; cause or provoke

to raise a smile

11.

to put forward for consideration

to raise a question

12.

to cause to assemble or gather together; collect

to raise an army

13.

to grow or cause to grow

to raise a crop

14.

to bring up; rear

to raise a family

15.

to cause to be heard or known; utter or express

to raise a shout

to raise a protest

16.

to bring to an end; remove

to raise a siege

raise a ban

17.

to cause (dough, bread, etc) to rise, as by the addition of yeast

18. poker

to bet more than (the previous player)

19. bridge

to bid (one's partner's suit) at a higher level

20. nautical

to cause (something) to seem to rise above the horizon by approaching

we raised land after 20 days

21.

to establish radio communications with

we managed to raise Moscow last night

22.

to obtain (money, funds, capital, etc)

23.

to bring (a surface, a design, etc) into relief; cause to project

24.

to cause (a blister, welt, etc) to form on the skin

25.

to expel (phlegm) by coughing

26. phonetics

to modify the articulation of (a vowel) by bringing the tongue closer to the roof of the mouth

27. mathematics

to multiply (a number) by itself a specified number of times

8 is 2 raised to the power 3

28.

to institute (a suit or action at law)

to draw up (a summons)

29. mainly US and Canadian

to increase the amount payable on (a cheque, money order, etc) fraudulently

30. curling

to push (a stone) towards the tee with another stone

31. See raise an eyebrow

32. See raise one's glass to

33. See raise one's hat

noun

34.

the act or an instance of raising

35. mainly US and Canadian

an increase, esp in salary, wages, etc; rise

Derived forms

raisable (��raisable) or raiseable (ˈraiseable)

adjective

raiser (ˈraiser)

noun

Word origin

C12: from Old Norse reisa; related to Old English rǣran to rear2

Word Frequency

raise in American English

(reɪz )

verb transitiveWord forms: raised or ˈraising

to cause to rise; move to a higher level; lift; elevate

to bring to or place in an upright position

to construct or erect (a building, etc.)

to wake from sleep

to stir up; arouse; incite

to raise a revolt

to increase in size, value, amount, etc.

to raise prices

to increase in degree, intensity, strength, etc.

to raise one's voice

to improve the position, rank, or situation of

to raise oneself from poverty

to cause to arise, appear, come, etc.; esp., to bring back as from death; reanimate

to raise the dead

to cause to come about; provoke; inspire

the joke raised a laugh

to bring forward for consideration

to raise a question

10.

to collect, gather, or procure (an army, money, etc.)

11.

to utter (a cry, shout, etc.)

12.

to bring to an end; remove

to raise a siege

13.

to cause to become light; leaven (bread, etc.)

14.

to cause to grow or to breed

to raise corn or cattle

to bring up or rear (children)

15.

to establish radio communication with

16.

to cause (a blister) to form

17.

to make (a nap on cloth) with teasels, etc.

18. US, Business

to increase by fraud the face value of (a check, etc.)

19. Nautical

to cause (land, another ship, etc.) to seem to rise over the horizon by approaching it; come within sight of

20. US, Bridge

to increase (one's partner's bid in a suit or in no-trump)

21. Phonetics

to change the sound of (a vowel) by putting the tongue in a higher position

22. US, Poker

to bet more than (the highest preceding bet or bettor)

verb intransitive

23. Dialectal

to rise or arise

24. US, Poker

to increase the bet

noun

25.

an act of raising

26.

an increase in amount

b. US

an increase in salary or wages, or in a bet

SIMILAR WORDS: lift

Idioms:

raise Cain

Word origin

ME raisen < ON reisa, caus. of risa, to rise

Examples of 'raise' in a sentence
raise

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

Tonight is all about raising money and awareness for veterans worldwide.We just have to find a different way to raise the money.Vertical introductions are rarely a way of raising prices.The move has raised hopes it could boost investor payouts and launch share buybacks.But his comments raise some interesting questions.Now two petitions have raised enough for her.You can reduce the neck twist by raising one side of your body with a pillow.It also raises the longstanding dilemma of whether gorillas should be in captivity at all.Their disappearances have sent a shiver through liberal civil society and raised fears of a sinister new crackdown.The fog was now thinning, and the crew raised two flags.