Quick Definition · verb / noun
To raise means to move something to a higher position, to increase something in level or amount, or to look after a child until they are grown up. As a noun, a raise is an increase in pay.
Etymology of Raise
Raise comes from the Old Norse word reisa, meaning "to cause to rise", which entered Middle English via the Scandinavian languages during the Viking settlements of northern England. The Old Norse root is closely related to Old English ræran, from which we also get the word rear in the sense of bringing up children.
By the 13th century, raise was firmly established in English with its core meaning of lifting something upward. Over the following centuries its senses expanded to include increasing quantities (raise prices, raise standards) and the figurative uses that are so common today (raise a question, raise awareness).
The noun use of raise to mean a salary increase is recorded in American English from the mid-19th century; in British English the equivalent is pay rise or simply rise.
Example Sentences by CEFR Level
| Level | Sentence | Usage note |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | She raised her hand to ask a question. | raise + object (physical movement upward) |
| B1 | The school raised money for a local children's hospital. | raise money (fundraising collocation) |
| B1 | He was raised in a small village in Wales and moved to London at eighteen. | be raised (passive — brought up in a place) |
| B2 | The government has announced plans to raise the minimum wage by four per cent next April. | raise + noun (increase an amount or level) |
| C1 | The report raises serious concerns about data security that the board must address urgently. | raise concerns / raise a question (formal, introduce a topic) |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| raise awareness | The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health issues. |
| raise money / funds | They raised over £10,000 for the food bank. |
| raise prices / rates | The energy company raised its prices again this winter. |
| raise a family / children | It is not easy to raise a family on a single income. |
| raise a question / issue / concern | Several MPs raised concerns about the new legislation. |
| raise standards | The inspectors were asked to raise standards across all schools. |
| raise your voice | Please do not raise your voice — others are working nearby. |
| raise the alarm | A neighbour raised the alarm after seeing smoke coming from the house. |
| raise hopes / expectations | The new treatment has raised hopes for patients with the condition. |
| raise a smile / laugh | Even in difficult times, he could always raise a smile. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for Learners
- Raise is transitive: it always needs a direct object. You raise something — you cannot say "the price raised" on its own; say "the company raised its prices" or "the price rose".
- Raise vs rise: rise is intransitive (no object) — "the sun rises", "temperatures are rising". Raise is transitive (needs an object) — "raise your hand", "raise standards". This is one of the most common confusion points for English learners.
- Raise a child / family: in both British and American English, raise means to bring up and care for a child. In British English, bring up is equally common in everyday speech.
- Formal collocations: raise a question / raise a concern / raise an objection are standard in academic, business, and professional writing. They mean to introduce a topic or problem for discussion.
- Noun use — British vs American English: in British English, an increase in salary is a pay rise or simply a rise. In American English it is a raise. Both forms are understood internationally, but use pay rise in formal British writing.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
The temperature raised overnight.
The temperature rose overnight. (rise is intransitive — use it when there is no object)
She rised her hand to answer the question.
She raised her hand to answer the question. (raise is regular: raise / raised / raised)
They raised up the prices last month.
They raised prices last month. (up is redundant — raise already implies upward movement)
Related Words
Practise This Word
Frequently Asked Questions about “raise”
What does raise mean in English?
Raise has several meanings. As a verb it most commonly means: (1) to move something upward ('raise your hand'); (2) to increase something ('raise prices'); (3) to bring up children or animals ('she raised three children'). As a noun, chiefly in American English, a raise is an increase in salary.
What is the difference between raise and rise?
Raise is a transitive verb — it always takes a direct object: 'raise your hand', 'raise prices'. Rise is an intransitive verb — it never takes an object: 'the sun rises', 'prices are rising'. A common mistake is to say 'the price raised' — the correct form is 'the price rose' or 'the company raised its prices'.
What are the past tense forms of raise?
Raise is a regular verb. The past simple is raised and the past participle is also raised: 'She raised her hand.' / 'The money has been raised.' This makes it simpler than rise, which is irregular (rise / rose / risen).
How do you use raise in a sentence?
As a verb: 'Please raise your hand if you have a question.' / 'The company raised salaries by five per cent.' / 'He was raised in a small town in Wales.' As a noun (British English: pay rise; American English: raise): 'She asked her manager for a raise.' Always use raise with a direct object when it is a verb.
What does raise a question mean?
To raise a question (or raise an issue / raise a concern) means to introduce or bring up a topic for discussion or consideration. For example: 'The report raises serious questions about data privacy.' This is a very common formal and academic collocation.
What is the difference between raise and bring up?
When talking about children, raise and bring up are largely interchangeable: 'She raised/brought up her children in Edinburgh.' Bring up is slightly more common in informal British English, while raise is standard in both British and American English. Both mean to care for a child until they reach adulthood.
Can raise be used as a noun?
Yes. In American English, a raise refers to an increase in salary: 'He got a raise after his performance review.' In British English the equivalent is a pay rise. Raise as a noun also appears in poker: 'She made a raise of fifty pounds.'
What are common collocations with raise?
Common collocations include: raise awareness, raise money, raise prices, raise a family, raise concerns, raise standards, raise your voice, raise the alarm, raise hopes, and raise a question. These fixed combinations are the most natural way to use raise in context.
What is the noun form of raise?
The main noun related to raise is raise itself (an increase, especially in pay). Related nouns include: rise (an increase — standard British English), raising (the act of collecting money or rearing children, e.g. 'fundraising', 'child-raising'), and raiser (a person who raises something, e.g. 'a curtain raiser').
How can I practise using raise in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise raise and rise in context, or use the Flash Cards tool to test the difference between raise (transitive) and rise (intransitive). Writing your own example sentences — one for each key meaning — is also an effective study technique.