rise

RYZ/ɹaɪz/

Verbrises, rising, rose, risen

Noun pluralrises

Often confused with raise

33 meanings of rise

Practice

1
go up (amount)verbintransitive
Of a quantity, price, or similar measure, to increase or become greater.
Unemployment continued to rise throughout the recession.
Sea levels rise as polar ice continues to melt.
UsageUse by for the amount and to for the new level: prices rose by 5% to $40.
Similarincrease, climb, grow, mount, soar
Oppositefall, drop, decrease, decline
2
head upwardverbintransitive
To move, or appear to move, upward from a lower position; also, to go up or climb something such as a hill.
Bubbles rise to the surface as the kettle heats up.
As the diver dropped her weight belt, she felt her body rise toward the light.
UsageThings rise by themselves; you raise something. Forms: rose, have risen (not ~~incorrect: rised~~).
Similarascend, climb, mount
Oppositesink, fall, descend, drop
3
growth in powernouncountable
The process or instance of coming to prominence, gaining power, fame, or importance.
Historians still study the rise of ancient empires.
Her rapid rise to fame caught the media's attention.
UsageCommon patterns: the rise of a nation or idea, and a rise to fame or to power.
Similarascent, emergence, climb, growth
Oppositefall, decline, downfall
4
advance (career)verbintransitive
To advance to a higher rank, status, or position within a group or society.
He managed to rise from clerk to director in ten years.
Talented players rise quickly through the junior ranks.
UsageCommon patterns: rise from clerk to director, rise through the ranks, rise in a company.
Similaradvance, progress, climb, ascend
Oppositefall
Note
Social climbing borrows the vocabulary of height, and rise pairs naturally with fall: Shakespeare's Measure for Measure turns the line "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall." The participle works as an adjective for someone on the way up, as in Julius Hare's "rising theologians of Germany."
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
The quoted line occurs in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure; its speaker is Escalus. folgerdigitaltexts.org
Julius Hare used the words “rising theologians of Germany.” en.wiktionary.org
5
an increasenouncountable
An increase in a quantity, price, or other measurable amount.
The council announced a rise in council tax for next year.
Economists warned of a further rise in interest rates.
UsageA rise in prices names what went up; a rise of 5% says by how much.
Similarincrease, hike, jump, climb
Oppositefall, drop, decrease, cut
6
upward movementnouncountable
An act or process of moving upward or going higher, as of a balloon, the sun, or the tide.
The kids cheered at the slow rise of the hot-air balloon over the treetops.
The sudden rise of the water in the creek forced the campers to move their tents.
Similarincrease, ascent, climb, lift, elevation
Oppositefall, drop, descent
7
come up (sun)verbintransitive
To appear to climb up from behind the horizon as a planet turns, the way the sun does each morning.
The full moon will rise in the east shortly after sunset.
Sailors once timed their journeys by when certain stars rise above the horizon.
UsageUse in to name the part of the sky where something appears: the sun rises in the east.
Oppositeset
Note
Astronomy's polite fiction: the sun and moon do not climb. The observer's planet turns them into view, yet the same verb and the same grammar serve. The perfect is risen, as in John Meade Falkner's Moonfleet (1898), where a narrator trapped in a vault knows "that the sun had risen again."
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
The apparent rising of the Sun and Moon is caused by Earth's rotation. science.nasa.gov
John Meade Falkner wrote Moonfleet, first published in 1898. en.wikipedia.org
The quoted words occur in the narrator's account of recognizing that the Sun had risen. gutenberg.org
The narrator has been trapped in the vault. gutenberg.org
8
surgeverbintransitive
To come about and develop, or to grow stronger in force or intensity, as a feeling, a situation, or a style of speech or writing does.
A sense of panic can rise quickly in a packed crowd.
By evening the wind had begun to rise, rattling the shutters and bending the trees.
Similargrow, build, mount, swell, intensify
Oppositesubside, abate, fade, drop
9
tower aboveverbintransitive
To extend or grow upward, reaching a certain height above the ground.
The new cathedral will rise above every rooftop in the town.
Ancient redwoods rise far above the forest floor.
Similartower, soar, loom
10
stand upverbintransitive
To stand up or move into an upright position, especially after sitting, kneeling, or lying down.
Guests are expected to rise when the bride enters the hall.
The congregation rose to sing the closing hymn.
UsageCommon in ceremonies and courts (All rise, Please rise); in everyday talk, stand up is more usual.
Similarstand, arise
Oppositesit
11
back to lifeverbfigurativelyintransitive
To return to life after death; to be resurrected.
The faithful trust that the dead rise to new life.
According to the gospel, Christ rose on the third day.
UsageOften rise from the dead or from the grave. The solemn he is risen suits worship; ordinary prose says has risen.
Similararise, revive
Note
An old grammar survives in "he is risen!", which builds the perfect with be rather than have.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
"He is risen" preserves the historical construction using be with a past participle to form the perfect. ntffpu.uni-plovdiv.bg
12
puff up (dough)verbintransitive
Of dough or batter, to swell and puff up as gas forms or expands inside it, becoming light and airy.
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size.
Yeast breads rise because trapped gas expands the gluten network.
Similarprove, swell, expand
13
rebelverbintransitive
To take up arms against an authority; to rebel or go to war.
Oppressed provinces often rise when promised reforms never arrive.
The peasants rose in open revolt after the harvest failed.
UsageUsually rise against a ruler or power, often rise up against; also rise in revolt.
Similarrebel, revolt, mutiny
Note
The verb of revolt, at home in high style. Milton's Paradise Lost (1667) has hell rising "with blackest insurrection," and Pope's Messiah (1712) promises that "no more shall nation against nation rise."
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
John Milton wrote Paradise Lost. en.wikipedia.org
Paradise Lost was first published in 1667. wwwe.lib.cam.ac.uk
Paradise Lost contains the quoted words about Hell rising; they occur in Belial's hypothetical argument in Book II. luminarium.org
Pope's Messiah was first published in 1712. gutenberg.org
Messiah contains the quoted promise that nations will cease fighting one another. gutenberg.org

Less common meanings

14
out of bedverbintransitive
To leave one's bed and get up, typically in the morning after a night's sleep.
She likes to rise early and walk before breakfast.
The monks here rise well before sunrise to pray.
UsageIn everyday talk, get up is more usual: I get up at seven.
Similarwake, arise
Oppositeretire
15
start (river)verbintransitive
To have its source or origin in a particular place, as a river does.
Several tributaries rise in the high plateau before joining the main river.
The Thames rises in a meadow in Gloucestershire.
UsageA river rises in the hills (where it starts); a river is rising when its water gets higher.
Similaroriginate, start (entry), begin, spring
Note
Geography's verb for where a river begins. The Monthly Magazine of 1802 has the Amazon rising out of Lake Launcocha, and rivers likewise rise in hills or in meadows.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
The Monthly Magazine in 1802 described the Amazon as rising out of Lake Launcocha. en.wiktionary.org
16
meet a challengeverbintransitive
To respond well to a demand or difficulty, finding the strength or skill needed to meet it, usually in 'rise to the occasion' or 'rise to the challenge'.
When the city fell behind on snow removal, neighbors rose to the occasion and cleared every sidewalk on the block.
He always seems to rise to the challenge under pressure.
UsageMostly in set phrases: rise to the occasion, rise to the challenge.
Similarspring
Note
The sense behind a familiar idiom: to rise to the occasion is to find, under pressure, the ability a moment demands. Hospitals rise to a challenge, and an intellect rises to meet academic demands. The same verb covers feelings stirred into action, as when a temper rises under goading.
17
small hillnouncountable
A piece of rising ground; a gentle upward slope or low hill.
The riders disappeared over a grassy rise on the horizon.
From the top of the rise, the whole town came into view.
Similarslope, hill, incline, knoll
Oppositedip, hollow
Note
A walker's or rider's word for gently rising ground, which often cuts off the view for a moment, so the natural verbs are crest, top and go over. Samanth Subramanian describes rolling land where, "upon cresting a low rise," lorries suddenly come into view. Next to a hill, a rise is modest; what matters is the line it draws across sight.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Samanth Subramanian uses the exact words “upon cresting a low rise” when describing gently rolling land where lorries suddenly become visible. en.wiktionary.org
18
slope upverbintransitive
To slant or slope gradually upward from a lower level to a higher one.
The meadows rise gently toward the foot of the mountains.
The road rises steadily as it approaches the pass.
Similarslope, climb, ascend, incline
Oppositedescend, fall
19
strong reactionnouncolloquialcountable
A marked visible or audible reaction provoked from a person or group.
He knew the comment would get a rise out of his rival.
She knew the joke about his haircut would get a rise out of him, and it did.
UsageSet phrase: get a rise out of someone, usually by teasing them on purpose.
Similarreaction, response
20
pay increasenounAustraliaCanadaIrelandUKabbreviationellipsis
Short for pay rise: an increase in someone's wage or salary.
The union negotiated a modest rise for all staff.
He was hoping for a rise to cover the higher rent.
UsageAmerican English says a raise. You ask for or get a rise, and the amount follows of: a rise of 3%.
21
bring up (fish)verbtransitive
To cause something to go up or ascend, as when a fish is drawn up to the surface.
If you can't rise a fish with a dry fly, switch to one that sinks.
The guide rose a salmon on his second cast but lost it at the net.
Similarraise
Note
A few trades kept the older pattern. Anglers rise a fish when they tempt it to the surface. Sailors rise a ship by approaching until it clears the horizon, as in William Clark Russell's My Watch Below (1882): "until we rose the bark." Rise a hill, meaning climb it, is the other use with an object.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
William Clark Russell wrote My Watch Below. en.wikisource.org
The quoted words are attributed to My Watch Below by Wiktionary. en.wiktionary.org
22
end sessionverbfigurativelyintransitive
To bring an official sitting to an end; to adjourn, as a court or legislature does.
The committee will rise at noon whether or not it reaches a decision.
The House rose late that evening after a long debate.
Similaradjourn, recess
Oppositesit, convene
Note
Procedure's word for finishing business: the body itself rises, not its members. The committee rose after agreeing to the report, and Thomas Babington Macaulay writes that it was near nine before the House rose. When an individual stands, that is getting to one's feet, though the two meet when a court rises.
Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
Thomas Babington Macaulay writes that it was near nine before the House rose. en.wikisource.org
23
come to mindverbintransitive
To come to mind; to occur or suggest itself, as a thought or idea does.
As she listens to old songs, faint memories rise in her mind.
A sudden idea rose in his mind during the meeting.
Similararise, surface, emerge, occur
24
come (smell or sound)verbintransitive
To become perceptible to a sense other than sight, as a smell or sound does.
Murmurs rise from the crowd as the speaker pauses.
The scent of jasmine rose through the open window.
Similarwaft, drift, come
25
higher noteverbintransitive
Of a voice, instrument, or melody, to move up the scale to a higher pitch.
The violins rise an octave in the final movement.
His tenor rose effortlessly into the upper register.
Similarclimb, ascend
Oppositedescend, drop
26
step heightnouncountable
The vertical height of an arch or of a single step in a staircase.
Building codes limit the rise of each stair for safety.
The architect increased the rise of the arch to add grandeur.
Similarheight
Note
Builders describe a stair in two numbers. The rise is how far each step climbs, and the going is how far forward it reaches: a rise of 170 mm with a going of 250 mm, say. On an arch the rise is its height, and it carries structural weight: as the rise decreases, the outward thrust increases.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 6 facts
Rise and going are paired measurements used to describe stairs. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
The rise measures the vertical distance between consecutive steps. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
The going measures the forward distance covered by each step. en.wikipedia.org
A rise of 170 mm and a going of 250 mm form a plausible illustrative combination. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
An arch's rise is its height from springing level to crown. en.wikipedia.org
Arch rise affects structural forces: decreasing rise increases outward thrust, with span and loading held constant. courses.edx.org
27
waist to crotchnouncountable
The amount of fabric extending from the waistband to the crotch in pants or shorts.
The tailor measured the rise before adjusting the waistband.
These pants have a longer rise for added comfort.
28
verbarchaic
To come; to present or offer itself, as an opportunity does.
29
verbobsolete
Of an army, to pull back and abandon the siege of a town or fort.
30
verbdated
In letterpress printing, of a locked form of type, to come up off the stone in one piece with no letters falling out.
One side of the form is now to be lifted from the stone just enough to allow the compositor to see whether it will rise or not but not so high as to let any loose letters drop out.
1872, Thomas Lynch, The Printer's Manual: A Practical Guide for Compositors and Pressmen
31
noun
The front panel of a diaper, the part that comes up over the stomach.
32
noun
A low hill, found mostly in the names of places.
33
noun
Another spelling of rice in its old sense of a small branch or twig.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of rise apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Old English rīsan became Middle English risen. Before that come Proto-West Germanic *rīsan and Proto-Germanic *rīsaną, and the ultimate source is the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁rey- ("to rise, arise"), though another view traces it to *h₃er- ("to stir, rise"). The word is related to raise, and its cognates include Dutch rijzen and Icelandic rísa.