rise

1 of 2

verb

rose ˈrōz How to pronounce rise (audio) ; risen ˈri-zᵊn How to pronounce rise (audio) ; rising ˈrī-ziŋ How to pronounce rise (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to assume an upright position especially from lying, kneeling, or sitting
b
: to get up from sleep or from one's bed
2
: to return from death
3
: to take up arms
rise in rebellion
4
: to respond warmly : applaud
usually used with to
the audience rose to her verve and wit
5
chiefly British : to end a session : adjourn
6
: to appear above the horizon
the sun rises at six
7
a
: to move upward : ascend
b
: to increase in height, size, volume, or pitch
8
: to extend above other objects
mountain peaks rose to the west
9
a
: to become heartened or elated
his spirits rose
b
: to increase in fervor or intensity
my anger rose as I thought about the insult
10
a
: to attain a higher level or rank
officers who rose from the ranks
b
: to increase in quantity or number
11
a
: to take place : happen
b
: to come into being : originate
12
: to follow as a consequence : result
13
: to exert oneself to meet a challenge
rise to the occasion

rise

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a spot higher than surrounding ground : hilltop
b
: an upward slope
a rise in the road
2
: an act of rising or a state of being risen: such as
a
: a movement upward : ascent
b
: emergence (as of the sun) above the horizon
c
: the upward movement of a fish to seize food or bait
3
: beginning, origin
the river had its rise in the mountain
4
: the distance or elevation of one point above another
5
a
: an increase especially in amount, number, or volume
b
chiefly British : raise sense 3b
c
: an increase in price, value, rate, or sum
a rise in the cost of living
6
: an angry reaction
got a rise out of him
7
: the distance from the crotch to the waistline on pants
Choose the Right Synonym for rise

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of rise in a Sentence

Verb Smoke was rising into the air. Bubbles rose to the surface of water. The tide rose and fell. The land rises as you move away from the coast. a tower rising above the little town a politician who rose to fame very quickly The book has risen to the top of best-seller lists. People are angry about rising gasoline prices. The market is continuing to rise. The wind rose in the afternoon. Noun We watched the rise and fall of the waves. The book describes the empire's rise and fall. the meteoric rise of the Internet a politician's rise to fame
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
High inflation, supply chain disruptions and the rising cost of capital and building materials were making projects more expensive as developers were trying to get the first large U.S. offshore wind farms opened. Jennifer McDermott, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 That’s double economists’ expectations for prices to rise 0.3% for the month. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Related Articles Numerous office properties in the region and around the nation face a squeeze on their mortgages as the building owners grapple with rising vacancies and skyrocketing interest rates, which make loan payments tougher. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 This trend has been cooking for years, accelerated by the pivot to hybrid working, but has proved its ability to endure amid rising costs. Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 14 Mar. 2024 Their reasons were many — traffic, rising homelessness, failing infrastructure, shifting local and state politics, and a lack of affordable housing. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 This conversation is particularly pressing in late summer and early fall, when rising temperatures are driving up air conditioning use and straining the power grid. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 To find the best plus size jeans, Jessie consulted with top style and denim experts Kam Throckmorton, Samantha Brown, and Swati Kelkar to learn more about what to look for in a pair of plus size jeans and learn more about important factors like stretch, leg shape, and rise. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 From the start of 2021, the city saw a 60 percent spike in demand for homes, and at the same time, sales rose by 50 percent. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
While there are many factors driving people to move from San Diego to elsewhere in California or out of state, demographers agree that the leading motivator is the region’s unabated rise in the cost of housing, coupled with a still lingering willingness of many employers to permit remote work. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 Mass layoffs beginning in the late 20th century precipitated a dramatic decline in Saginaw’s population and economy, accompanied by a sharp rise in political turmoil within the city and throughout the region around it. Joey Cappelletti, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 Unintended Consequences Efforts to head off the rise of the AfD are now intensifying at the national level, but those efforts may have the unintended effect of weakening democratic functions in Germany. Erika Solomon, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The film explores her rise as one of billiards’ biggest names, her TV popularity and her significance as a cultural figure. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 However, the agency warns that the global rise in measles cases remains a threat in other parts of the world too. Alexander Tin, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024 The green feel-good factor Sustainability is a key factor in the rapid rise of secondhand luxury. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 3 Mar. 2024 Farmington’s Historic District was established in 1980 to preserve the history of Farmington during the rise in the development of nearby Farmington Hills − and patrons will be invited to walk its streets on March 8. Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2024 Khater said the rise in rates during February has dampened already tentative homebuyer momentum heading into the spring. Krystal Hur, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English rīsan; akin to Old High German rīsan to rise

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rise was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near rise

Cite this Entry

“Rise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rise. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rise

1 of 2 verb
rose ˈrōz How to pronounce rise (audio) ; risen ˈriz-ᵊn How to pronounce rise (audio) ; rising ˈrī-ziŋ How to pronounce rise (audio)
1
a
: to get up from lying, kneeling, or sitting
b
: to get up from sleep or from one's bed
2
: to return from death
3
: to take up arms
the people rose in rebellion
4
: to appear above the horizon
sun rises at six
5
a
: to move upward : ascend
smoke rises
b
: to extend upward
hill rises to a great height
6
: to swell in size or volume
the river was rising
bread dough rises
7
a
: to become encouraged
their spirits rose
b
: to grow stronger
felt her anger rising
8
a
: to gain a higher rank or position
rose to colonel
b
: to increase in quantity or number
prices were rising
9
a
: arise sense 2b
an ugly rumor had risen
b
: to come into being : originate
river rises in the hills
10
: to show oneself equal to a demand or test
rise to the occasion

rise

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of rising : a state of being risen
2
3
: the distance of one point above another
4
: an increase in amount, number, or volume
5
a
: an upward slope
b
: a spot higher than surrounding ground
6
: an angry reaction

More from Merriam-Webster on rise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!