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
12
: to follow as a consequence : result
13
: to exert oneself to meet a challenge
rise to the occasion
1
a
: a spot higher than surrounding ground : hilltop
b
: an upward slope
a rise in the road
2
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
Synonyms
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
Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Geodesy informs everything from building sewers and making accurate maps of sea level rise to launching and tracking spacecraft.
—Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
Anna North, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
Uncontrolled, open-source diffusion could give rise to smaller gangs or tribes with substandard but substantial AI capacities, sufficient to administer to, provide for, and defend themselves within some limited scope.
—Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rise 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
The Orediggers entered Saturday ranked 10th in the region and need to rise into the top seven in order to reach the postseason.
—Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Geodesy informs everything from building sewers and making accurate maps of sea level rise to launching and tracking spacecraft.
—Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
The rise of YouTube over the last 20 years has also changed toy purchasing, with influencers advertising toys and releasing their own lines.
—Anna North, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
Uncontrolled, open-source diffusion could give rise to smaller gangs or tribes with substandard but substantial AI capacities, sufficient to administer to, provide for, and defend themselves within some limited scope.
—Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rise
Dictionary Entries Near rise
Cite this Entry
“Rise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rise. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rise
1 of 2 verb1
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 noun1
: 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
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