rise
- raise
Rise and raise are usually verbs.
‘rise’
Rise is an intransitive verb. If something rises, it moves upwards.
Thick columns of smoke rise from the chimneys.
The other forms of rise are rises, rising, rose, risen.
A few birds rose noisily into the air.
The sun had risen behind them.
If an amount rises, it increases.
Commission rates are expected to rise.
Prices rose by more than 10%.
When someone who is sitting rises, they raise their body until they are standing. This use of rise occurs mainly in stories.
Dr Willoughby rose to greet them.
In conversation and in less formal writing, don't say that someone ‘rises’. Say that they stand up.
I put down my glass and stood up.
You can also use rise to say that someone gets out of bed in the morning. This use of rise also occurs mainly in stories, especially when the author is mentioning the time at which someone gets out of bed.
They had risen at dawn.
In conversation and in less formal writing, don't use ‘rise’ to say that someone gets out of bed. Say that they get up.
Mike decided it was time to get up.
‘raise’
Raise is a transitive verb. If you raise something, you move it to a higher position.
He raised the cup to his lips.
She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
used as nouns
Rise and raise can also be nouns. A rise is an increase in an amount or quantity.
The price rises are expected to continue.
There has been a rise in crime.
In British English, a rise is also an increase in someone's wages or salary.
He asked his boss for a rise.
In American English, and sometimes in British English, people refer to this as a raise.
She got a 5% raise.