Quick Summary on “Rise” and “Raise”
- The main difference between the verbs rise and raise is that somebody/something can rise on its own, whereas an outside force is needed to raise somebody/something. In other words, rise is an intransitive verb whereas raise is a transitive verb.
- Rise means “to come or go upwards,” “to ascend to a higher level,” or “to increase in the amount or level or something.”
- Raise means “to lift or move something to a higher level” or “to increase,” depending on the context.
- ○ He was rising to the top of the charts at a remarkable pace.
- ○ 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.
The sun rises.
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.
I usually rise at 7 AM every weekday.
Chris rose from his chair and applauded.
He has risen as one of the top athletes in the entire state.
Rise can also mean “to increase in amount, number, size, volume, or pitch.”
Global temperatures continue to rise at unprecedented rates.
Similarly, as a noun, rise refers to the “increase in amount, number, or level.”
We were told to expect an interest rate rise.
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.”
The student raised her hand to ask a question.
It’s a regular verb, so its forms are raise, raised, and raised.
We needed to raise awareness about the issues.
Chloe raised the young chicks.
They had raised the number of guests allowed in.
Pay Raise or Pay Rise?
In American English, raise can also function as a noun that means “an increase in wages or salary.” However, in British English, the word used for this is rise.
- 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.
