rising: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal, Informal, Technical (in specific contexts)
Quick answer
What does “rising” mean?
Moving upward or increasing in level, amount, or intensity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Moving upward or increasing in level, amount, or intensity.
Aging or progressing towards a higher state (e.g., power, success); becoming more prominent; (in baking) the process of dough increasing in volume.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal semantic differences. Slight variations in collocational frequency and compound usage (e.g., 'rising damp' is a standard UK property term, less common in US).
Connotations
Largely identical. 'Rising tide' may have slightly stronger socio-economic/political metaphorical use in US discourse.
Frequency
Comparably frequent. 'Rising damp' is significantly more frequent in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “rising” in a Sentence
[subject] rising (adverb/prep phrase: from, to, above)the rising of [noun][rising + noun][noun] is on the rise (related idiom)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rising” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The smoke was rising from the factory chimney.
- Concerns are rising over the state of the High Street.
American English
- The river is rising after the heavy rains.
- His voice was rising in anger.
adverb
British English
- We hiked up the rising steep path.
- (Rarely used as a standalone adverb, typically part of a phrasal verb or compound adjective).
American English
- The road stretched out, rising gradually before us.
- (Rarely used as a standalone adverb, typically part of a phrasal verb or compound adjective).
adjective
British English
- She is a rising talent in the art world.
- The house has a problem with rising damp.
American English
- He is a rising star in the tech industry.
- The company faces rising competition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"We must address rising operational expenditures."
Academic
"The graph illustrates a rising trend in atmospheric CO2 concentrations."
Everyday
"I watched the balloon rising slowly into the sky."
Technical
"The technician monitored the rising edge of the electrical pulse."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rising”
- Confusing 'rising' (adj.) with 'arising' (verb, meaning 'emerging'). Incorrect: 'The arising sun...'. Correct: 'The rising sun...'.
- Using 'raising' (transitive verb) instead of 'rising' (intransitive). Incorrect: 'Prices are raising.' Correct: 'Prices are rising.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Rising' is intransitive (doesn't take a direct object) – something rises by itself (e.g., The sun rises). 'Raising' is transitive (takes a direct object) – someone raises something (e.g., He raises his hand).
Yes, often in a gerund form or set phrases, e.g., 'The rising of the dough took two hours,' or 'the rising of the moon.'
It's a metaphorical idiom referring to a person who is becoming very popular and successful in their field, especially at a young age.
It is neutral and used across all registers, from everyday conversation ('rising bread') to formal academic and business contexts ('rising inflation').
Moving upward or increasing in level, amount, or intensity.
Rising: in British English it is pronounced /ˈraɪz.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈraɪz.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a rising tide lifts all boats”
- “get a rise out of someone”
- “on the rise”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RISE + ING = RISE-ing. Think of the sun making things rise in the morning.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE/SUCCESS IS UP (e.g., a rising star), QUANTITY IS UP (e.g., rising prices), FUTURE/EMERGENCE IS COMING FROM BELOW (e.g., a rising issue).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'rising' used as an adjective?