raise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "raise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as increasing something, bringing up a topic, or elevating an object or idea. Example: "We need to raise our voices to advocate for change in our community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Instead, a Labour government will raise them at least in line with inflation in every budget".

The Guardian

Economists generally agree that the key to addressing climate change is to raise the cost of burning fossil fuels, either directly, through a carbon tax, or indirectly, through a cap-and-trade program.

The Economist

McDonald's reinvention of the Hamburglar was seemingly meant as a play for refreshed cultural relevance, but deeply mixed reactions to the new beef thief raise the prospect that the corporation has miscalculated.

The Guardian - Business

London's mayor, Boris Johnson, united with London Councils and the Core Cities group – made up of the eight largest cities in the UK – in calls for local politicians to have more power to raise and retain taxes.

The Guardian

The good news was already "baked in," an analyst tells Reuters: U.S. stock index futures fell Thursday as investors digested a deal agreed by lawmakers in Washington a day earlier to reopen the federal government and raise the debt ceiling in order to avoid a debt default.

The Guardian

When I was an intern at Croydon I worked with young people to raise awareness and discovered that some members of staff and students had undergone FGM themselves.

The Guardian

If we raise the minimum wage often, then we will soon be having $20 fried chicken".

The Guardian - Business

What we would like to do is to raise our prices and do away with tips".

The Guardian - Business

Book now Whether you have an important issue you want to raise, or a story you want to tell, a documentary is a great way to get your message across.

The Guardian

To make a correction, or raise an issue about the Observer with the Readers' editor, email: [email protected]; write to Readers' Editor, The Observer, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU; or telephone [phone].

The Guardian

In terms of preparing cities to be as disaster-resilient as possible, the UN's office for disaster risk reduction launched its Making Cities Resilient campaign in 2010, urging local governments to raise disaster resilience awareness among citizens, invest in risk-reduction activities, and build more safely.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid ambiguity, specify the object when using raise. For example, "raise prices" is clearer than just "raise".

Common error

Ensure "raise" is followed by a direct object (something being raised). Avoid using it intransitively when a transitive verb is required; instead, use "rise" which does not take a direct object. For example: "The sun rises" is correct, not "raises".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "raise" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It signifies causing something to move upward, increase, or come into being. As Ludwig AI shows, it commonly appears in contexts related to increasing awareness, funds, or prices.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "raise" is a versatile transitive verb that means to lift, increase, or bring up a topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts. "Raise" appears most commonly in News & Media and Formal & Business settings. While generally neutral, it is essential to ensure its transitive nature is correctly applied, distinguishing it from the intransitive verb "rise". Related phrases like "elevate", "increase", and "bring up" offer context-specific alternatives. Proper usage involves clearly specifying what is being raised, and avoiding confusion with "rise".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase

Focuses on making something greater in size, amount, or degree.

elevate

Implies a more formal or dignified lifting or increasing.

lift

Suggests a physical action of raising something.

heighten

Emphasizes intensifying or amplifying a quality or feeling.

bring up

In the context of a topic, suggests introducing it into a conversation or discussion.

promote

Implies advancing something to a higher position or status.

cultivate

Focuses on nurturing or developing something over time.

generate

Highlights the creation or production of something.

assemble

Refers to gathering or collecting something, often resources or support.

muster

Indicates gathering strength or courage.

FAQs

How can I use "raise" in a sentence?

You can use "raise" to mean to lift something, like "Please raise your hand". It can also mean to increase something, such as "We need to raise awareness" or to bring up a subject, like "I want to raise an issue".

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

"Raise" is a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (e.g., "raise the flag"), while "rise" is intransitive and does not take a direct object (e.g., "the sun will rise").

What can I say instead of "raise" in a formal context?

In a formal setting, you can use alternatives such as "elevate", "increase", or "augment" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "raise" versus other similar verbs?

Use "raise" when you are causing something to move upward or increase. If something is moving up or increasing on its own, "rise" is more appropriate. Choose synonyms like "cultivate" or "generate" when the context involves development or creation.