climb
KLYM
Climb (verb) means to move upward, especially using effort — going up a hill, ladder, stairs, or rock face. Example: “The toddler tried to climb onto the sofa all by herself.”
verb
1
To move upward, especially using effort — going up a hill, ladder, stairs, or rock face.
"The toddler tried to climb onto the sofa all by herself."
"They climbed the steep trail to reach the summit before sunset."
"She climbed the ladder to fix the gutter."
2
To rise or increase, as a number, price, or position in a ranking.
"Temperatures began to climb as the sun rose above the hills."
"The song climbed to number one within a week."
"Prices have been climbing steadily since spring."
noun
1
An act or instance of climbing; an ascent.
"It was a hard climb, but the view from the top was worth it."
"After a short climb up the stairs, we reached the attic."
"The climb to the top took nearly four hours."
How to use climb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go up something, either physically (a mountain, stairs) or figuratively (rising numbers, rankings).
Common pairings
climb a mountain
climb the ranks
climb steadily
a steep climb
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Word forms
- Plural
- climbs
- Third person singular
- climbs
- Past tense
- climbed, clomb, clumb
- Archaic forms
- climbest, climbedst, climbeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The toddler tried to _____ onto the sofa all by herself.
Etymology
From Old English climban, "to climb," related to Old Norse and German words meaning to cling or stick — the same ancient root gave us "clay" and "glue," reflecting the idea of gripping something as you climb.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for climb
See all rhymes for climb →Frequently asked questions
What does “climb” mean?
The word “climb” means to move upward, especially using effort — going up a hill, ladder, stairs, or rock face. In plain terms, to go up something, either physically (a mountain, stairs) or figuratively (rising numbers, rankings).
How do you pronounce “climb”?
“Climb” is pronounced KLYM (/ˈklaɪ̯m/ in IPA).
How do you use “climb” in a sentence?
Here is “climb” used in a sentence: “They climbed the steep trail to reach the summit before sunset.”
What part of speech is “climb”?
Depending on how it is used, “climb” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “climb” come from?
The word “climb” comes from Old English. From Old English climban, "to climb," related to Old Norse and German words meaning to cling or stick — the same ancient root gave us "clay" and "glue," reflecting the idea of gripping something as you climb.
Is “climb” a common word?
“Climb” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “climb” have?
“Climb” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move upward, especially using effort — going up a hill, ladder, stairs, or rock face.
What is the difference between "climb" and "ascend"?
Both mean to move upward, but "climb" often implies effort or using the hands, as up a hill, ladder, or rock face, while "ascend" is more formal and can describe smooth upward movement, as of a plane or lift. "Climb" is also common for numbers or prices rising.
What is the difference between "climb" and "clime"?
"Climb" is a verb meaning to move upward or to rise, while "clime" is a noun meaning a region or its climate. They sound alike but are unrelated; "warmer climes" refers to warmer places, not to climbing.
What preposition goes with "climb"?
"Climb up," "climb down," "climb over," and "climb into" are all common, with the preposition showing direction. You can climb up a ladder, climb down from a tree, or climb over a wall.
Can "climb" be used for numbers and prices?
Yes. Beyond physical movement, "climb" means to rise or increase, so prices, temperatures, and rankings can all climb. For example, "sales climbed sharply" means they went up.
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