Grammar choices

Raise vs. Rise

Raise needs an object: you raise something, such as your hand or the rent. Rise has no object: something rises by itself, like the sun or prices. Raise, raised, raised; rise, rose, risen.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning
raise	verb	to lift something up or make it higher, larger or stronger; also to bring up children
raise	noun	an increase in the amount someone is paid
rise	verb	to go up, get up or increase without being pushed or lifted
rise	noun	an increase in amount or level, or a small upward slope of land

Raise

verb: to lift something up or make it higher, larger or stronger; also to bring up children

Raise your hand if you need more time.
The landlord raised the rent by fifty dollars.

noun: an increase in the amount someone is paid

Priya asked for a raise after her first year.
Everyone on the night shift got a small raise in January.

Rise

verb: to go up, get up or increase without being pushed or lifted

The bread dough rose for an hour in a warm spot.
Gas prices have risen three weeks in a row.

noun: an increase in amount or level, or a small upward slope of land

The town saw a sharp rise in bike sales this spring.
Our cabin sits on a small rise above the lake.

How to remember the difference

Raise has an A: you apply force to something, as when you raise a flag. Rise has an I: it happens by itself, as in I rise each morning.

Good to know

In American English, an increase in pay is a raise; British English says pay rise. The past tense of rise is rose and the past participle is risen, so the sun has rose is a mistake.

Spot the mistake

Prices tend to ~~raise~~ rise when demand goes up.
Correct: Prices tend to rise when demand goes up.
Please ~~rise~~ raise the blinds so we can see the garden.
Correct: Please raise the blinds so we can see the garden.

Check yourself

Pick the word that fits each sentence.

1. Every morning the fog starts to from the river.

2. The club plans to money for new uniforms.