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All confusables

Raise / Rise / Arise

Different meanings

Raise is transitive and takes an object; rise is intransitive and describes an increase or upward movement; arise means occur or emerge.

Raise

Use when

Someone or something causes another thing to increase, move upwards or receive attention; the verb takes an object.

Example

“Finance raised a concern about the revised estimate.”

Rise

Use when

Something increases or moves upwards by itself; the verb does not take a direct object.

Example

“Operating costs rose by 8% last year.”

Arise

Use when

A problem, question, need or opportunity occurs or emerges.

Example

“A new issue arose during user-acceptance testing.”

Quick check

costs have raised, an issue was arisen, the department rose the fee

Usage note

The past forms are raised, rose and arose; the past participles are raised, risen and arisen.

Source checked 2026-08-12 (opens in a new tab)