What does rise mean?
Rise describes movement upward as well as an increase in size, amount, level, intensity, or importance. People rise from a chair, a plane rises above the clouds, temperatures rise, and a person rises to prominence in a profession. As a noun, a rise is an increase or upward movement: “a rise in demand,” “a sharp rise in prices,” or “the rise of the sea.” The verb can also mean to become visible, to begin developing, or to reach a higher rank. Its broad range makes it especially useful in descriptions of physical movement, economic change, social advancement, and emotional or dramatic intensity. The related noun riser refers to someone or something that rises, while a rising can mean an increase, a movement upward, or an emerging person or movement.
To move upward, stand up, become higher, increase in amount or level, or reach a higher rank or state.
"The river rose rapidly after days of heavy rain."
The stress pattern is regular, but the past tense changes the vowel: rise–rose–risen.
An increase in amount, level, value, or importance; an upward movement; or an instance of becoming higher or more prominent.
"There was a sharp rise in demand for electric vehicles."
As a countable noun, “rise” often refers to a measurable increase or a significant change in status.
Use “rises” for separate instances of increase or upward movement, as in “successive rises in temperature.”
"The chart shows three successive rises in demand over the past year."
From the first light of dawn to the steepest climb, one of English’s most useful verbs is also a simple four-letter command to get going.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rise come from?
The word comes from Old English rīsan, meaning “to go up, ascend, or rise,” and is related to words in other Germanic languages, including Old Norse reisa and Gothic raisjan, “to raise.” The English verb developed both literal meanings, such as moving upward or standing up, and figurative senses involving increases in level, status, or intensity. Modern forms include the participle risen and the noun rising, both of which preserve the word’s central idea of upward movement or development.
Related word forms
How rise is actually used
Rise is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It can suggest a gradual increase, as in “prices rose slowly,” or a sharp and dramatic change, as in “the figure rose sharply.” In the sense of getting up, it is especially common in expressions such as “rise to your feet.”
Easily confused with rise
Rise generally describes moving upward or increasing on its own, whereas raise describes bringing something upward by exerting effort or causing it to move.