Understanding the Difference Between “Rise” and “Raise”
“Rise” and “raise” are two words that are commonly confused. We’ll go over what these words mean, their spellings, and how to use them correctly.
Rise means “to come or go upwards,” “to ascend to a higher level,” or “to increase in the amount or level or something.”
- He was rising to the top of the charts at a remarkable pace.
Raise means “to lift or move something to a higher level” or “to increase,” depending on the context.
- We need to raise the prices of our menu items because of inflation.
“Rise” vs. “Raise”
Rise and raise have somewhat similar definitions, and the only obvious difference between their spellings is the “a” in raise. So, we understand why you’re here. This blog post will cover what these words mean and show you how to use them correctly.
What Does “Rise” Mean?
As a verb, rise means “to move to a higher level,” “come or go up,” or “get up from lying or sitting.”
Rise is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn’t require a direct object.
In the example above, there is no direct object. The sentence states the sun simply ascends to a higher level.
Another difference between rise and raise is that rise is an irregular verb, meaning it doesn’t follow usual conjugation patterns. The three forms are rise, rose, and risen.
Rise can also mean “to increase in amount, number, size, volume, or pitch.”
Similarly, as a noun, rise refers to the “increase in amount, number, or level.”
Maybe you’re familiar with the phrase rise and shine. It’s another way of saying “good morning,” and it’s letting the recipient know it’s time to get up from bed. This can help you remember what rise means as a verb.
What Does “Raise” Mean?
Unlike rise, raise is a transitive verb (requires a direct object). It means “to lift or move something upwards, to a higher position.”
It’s a regular verb, so its forms are raise, raised, and raised.
- I got a 5% pay raise last year. (American English)
- I got a 5% pay rise last year. (British English)
If you’re just starting on your English journey and aren’t sure which word to use, or perhaps your company has clients from all around the world, it’s a good idea to use LanguageTool as your spelling and grammar checker. This multilingual text editor supports several English dialects (plus more than 20 other languages).
Raise the Roof If You Understand the Difference Between “Rise” and “Raise”
When deciding whether to use the word rise or raise, ask yourself this: Does the sentence I’m writing have a direct object?
If not, then the word you want is rise. If it does, then use raise.
Remember, something or someone can rise on their own. However, to raise something (or someone) requires an outside force to elevate it or lift it.
