Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹raise

verb \ˈrāz\

: to lift or move (something or someone) to a higher position

: to lift or move (something or someone) to a standing or more upright position

: to increase the amount or level of (something)

raisedrais·ing

Full Definition of RAISE

transitive verb

: to cause or help to rise to a standing position

a : awaken, arouse

b : to stir up : incite <raise a rebellion>

c : to flush (game) from cover

d : to recall from or as if from death

a : to set upright by lifting or building <raise a monument>

b : to lift up <raise your hand> <raise sunken treasure>

c : to place higher in rank or dignity : elevate

d : heighten, invigorate <raise the spirits>

e : to end or suspend the operation or validity of <raise a siege>

: to get together for a purpose : collect <raise funds>

a : grow, cultivate <raise cotton>

b : to bring to maturity : rear <raise a child>

c : to breed and bring (an animal) to maturity

a : to give rise to : provoke <raise a commotion>

b : to give voice to <raise a cheer>

: to bring up for consideration or debate <raise an issue>

a : to increase the strength, intensity, or pitch of <don't raise your voice>

b : to increase the degree of

c : to cause to rise in level or amount <raise the rent>

d (1) : to increase the amount of (a poker bet) (2) : to bet more than (a previous bettor)

e (1) : to make a higher bridge bid in (a partner's suit) (2) : to increase the bid of (one's partner)

: to make light and porous <raise dough>

: to cause to ascend <raise the dust>

: to multiply (a quantity) by itself a specified number of times <raise two to the fourth power>

: to bring in sight on the horizon by approaching <raise land>

a : to bring up the nap of (cloth)

b : to cause (as a blister) to form on the skin

: to increase the nominal value of fraudulently <raise a check>

: to articulate (a sound) with the tongue in a higher position

: to establish radio communication with

intransitive verb

dial : rise

: to increase a bet or bid

— rais·er noun

— raise Cain or raise hell

: to act wildly : create a disturbance

: to scold or upbraid someone especially loudly <raised hell with the umpire>

— raise eyebrows

: to cause surprise or mild disapproval

— raise the bar

: to set a higher standard <new software that raises the bar for competitors>

See raise defined for English-language learners

See raise defined for kids

Origin of RAISE

Middle English reisen, raisen, from Old Norse reisa — more at rear

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to RAISE

Synonyms: boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise

Antonyms: drop, lower

Synonym Discussion of RAISE

lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost mean to move from a lower to a higher place or position. lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight <lift the chair while I vacuum>. raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position <scouts raising a flagpole>. rear may add an element of suddenness to raise <suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs>. elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied <elevated the taste of the public>. hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means <hoisted the cargo on board>. heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain <heaved the heavy crate inside>. boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push <boosted his brother over the fence>.