The Difference Between "Raise" and "Rise"

The Difference Between "Raise" and "Rise"

by Forever
(Vietnam)

What is the difference between "raise" and "rise"?

Comments for The Difference Between "Raise" and "Rise"

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Apr 25, 2013
Appreciation
by: Anonymous

Very informative! Thank you.

Apr 24, 2011
Answer
by: Ola Zur

The biggest difference is the following:
To RAISE is to do the action to something else, and to RISE is to do the action yourself.

In other words:
You raise your hand. Your hand rises.
You raise the price. The prices rises.
The air conditioner raises the temperature. The temperature rises.

Here is the full explanation.

RAISE ? this word has many different meanings. Here are some common ones:

1) To move something to a higher position. (This is a rather formal use.)

Examples:

If you want to ask a question please raise your hand.

I couldn't raise my eyes from that book.

He started to raise his gun when the lights went off.

2) To increase something.

Examples:

They raised their price to $200.

The government intends to raise taxes.

Don't raise your voice!

3) To take care of a child.

Examples:

She has raised a wonderful son.

Lily was raised as a catholic.

His parents died when he was a baby and he was raised by his uncle.

RISE ? this word has many different meanings as well. Here are some common ones:

1) To move up. (This is a rather formal use.)

Examples:

We saw smoke rising from the house.

The plane is rising at two meters per second.

The rising sea levels may cause problems.

2) To increase, become higher.

Examples:

The price of oil is rising.

The fine will rise by 200% if you don't pay it on time.

The temperature never rises around here.

3) To appear in the sky.

Examples:

The sun always rises in the east.

The sun rises in the morning.

The moon rose over the river.

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