Raise vs. Rise
“Raise” and “rise” both describe upward movement or increase, but their grammar differs. “Raise” is normally transitive and takes an object; “rise” is intransitive and describes the subject moving or increasing on its own.
Use “raise” with an object: “They raised the price.” Use “rise” without a direct object: “The price rose.” Remember the irregular forms “rise, rose, risen.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| someone or something causes another thing to move/increase | raise + object | Use “raise” when the verb takes the thing affected as a direct object. |
| the subject itself moves upward or increases | rise without a direct object | Use “rise” for the intransitive change. |
| choose the past forms | raised; rose; risen | Remember: raise–raised–raised, but rise–rose–risen. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does the verb take a direct object naming the thing being lifted or increased?
If yes: Use “raise.”
If no: If the subject itself goes up or increases without that direct object, use “rise.”
Caveat: The object test is a strong editing shortcut, but idiomatic or figurative expressions should still be read in their actual sentence structure.
Examples
They raised the price by five percent.
“The price” is the direct object of “raised.”
The price rose by five percent.
The subject itself increased, so “rise” is used without a direct object.
Prices have risen since Monday.
“Risen” is the past participle of “rise.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “raise” when someone or something causes an object, amount, or level to move higher. Use “rise” when the subject itself moves or increases.
Fast Test
Ask whether the verb directly acts on something. “They raised prices” has an object; “prices rose” does not.
Grammar Boundary
Cambridge distinguishes the verbs by transitivity: “raise” takes an object; “rise” does not.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Raise or rise? — English Grammar Today (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Transitivity, meanings, and verb forms for raise and rise