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verb B1 Intermediate Very common

rise

ryz

Rise (verb) means to move upward or increase. Example: “Prices continued to rise throughout the year.”

verb
1
To move upward or increase.
"Prices continued to rise throughout the year."
"The sun rises in the east."
2
To get up from a lying or sitting position, or to get out of bed.
"She rises early every morning to exercise."
noun
1
An increase, or an upward slope.
"He asked his boss for a pay rise."
"The road climbed a steep rise before leveling out."

How to use rise

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo go up, get up, or increase — also, as a noun, an increase or a raise in pay.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "rise" (to go up by itself) with "raise" (to lift something else up) — the sun rises, but you raise your hand.

UK vs US

British English commonly uses "pay rise," while American English uses "raise."

Easily confused with
Common pairings
rise to the occasion rise and shine on the rise give rise to

Word forms

rose past tense, risen past tense, rised past tense, rise plural, rose plural, Rises plural, rises singular, rise singular, rose singular, risest singular, rosest singular, riseth singular

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Test yourself on “rise” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Prices continued to _____ throughout the year.

Etymology

From Old English rīsan, "to rise," from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to arise" or "get up."

Origin: Old English

Antonyms

descend drop fall sink set be reduce decrease go down

Related words

Rhymes for rise

See all rhymes for rise →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rise” mean?

The word “rise” means to move upward or increase. In plain terms, to go up, get up, or increase — also, as a noun, an increase or a raise in pay.

How do you pronounce “rise”?

“Rise” is pronounced ryz (/ɹaɪz/ in IPA).

How do you use “rise” in a sentence?

Here is “rise” used in a sentence: “Prices continued to rise throughout the year.”

What is another word for “rise”?

Words with a similar meaning to “rise” include get up, increase and go up.

What is the opposite of “rise”?

The opposite of “rise” — its antonyms — are descend, drop, fall, sink and set.

What part of speech is “rise”?

Depending on how it is used, “rise” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “rise” come from?

The word “rise” comes from Old English. From Old English rīsan, "to rise," from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to arise" or "get up.".

Is “rise” a common word?

“Rise” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

What is the difference between "rise" and "raise"?

"Rise" is intransitive, meaning something goes up on its own with no object, as in "the sun rises" or "prices rise." "Raise" is transitive, meaning someone lifts something else, as in "raise your hand" or "raise prices." If you can ask "raise what?", use raise; if nothing is being lifted, use rise.

What is the past tense of "rise"?

"Rise" is irregular: its past tense is "rose" and its past participle is "risen." So you say "the sun rose this morning" and "the sun has risen." Don't confuse these with "raise," whose past forms are the regular "raised" and "raised."

What is the opposite of "rise"?

The main opposites are "fall," "drop," "sink," and "descend." Where things rise they move up or increase; where they fall or drop they move down or decrease. "Prices rise" contrasts with "prices fall," and "the sun rises" with "the sun sets."

What is an example of "rise" in a sentence?

"Hot-air balloons rise into the sky" shows upward movement. "Prices are expected to rise next year" shows an increase. In both, nothing is being lifted by someone else, which is exactly why "rise," not "raise," is the correct choice.

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