Grow vs. Raise: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 19, 2023
"Grow" typically refers to natural development or increase in size, while "Raise" generally involves bringing up, elevating, or cultivating something, usually by human intervention.
Key Differences
"Grow" and "Raise" are terms often used in relation to development and increase. "Grow" usually denotes a natural or organic process, often not requiring human intervention, such as when plants grow or economies grow. In contrast, "Raise" implies a more direct form of human intervention or effort, as when one raises children or raises cattle, guiding, nurturing, or cultivating them to maturity or a certain state.
In agricultural contexts, the difference between "Grow" and "Raise" becomes particularly noteworthy. Crops, plants, and vegetation are typically said to grow, highlighting the natural process of germination and development. However, livestock and animals are said to be raised, emphasizing the human effort in feeding, sheltering, and nurturing them to maturity or a specific condition.
When considering personal development or progress, "Grow" typically relates to self-development, knowledge expansion, or maturity increase, like growing as a person or growing in understanding. "Raise," however, would more likely refer to actively promoting or enhancing one's status, condition, or level, such as raising one's consciousness or raising one’s standards, often implying conscious effort or intervention.
Similarly, in economic and financial contexts, "Grow" would usually relate to the natural increase or expansion, as in growing wealth or a growing economy. "Raise," conversely, would often relate to actively accumulating or collecting, like raising funds or raising capital, which involves direct actions and initiatives to increase the amount.
The words "Grow" and "Raise" while seemingly synonymous, are distinguished by the nature and involvement of the developmental process they refer to. "Grow" illustrates organic, inherent progress or increase, while "Raise" denotes deliberate, nurtured elevation or cultivation.
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Comparison Chart
Nature of Development
Natural or organic process
Act of nurturing or cultivating
Typical Use
Used for plants, knowledge, understanding
Used for animals, funds, awareness
Human Intervention
Usually minimal or non-existent
Typically involves direct human effort
Application Context
Agricultural, personal development, economic
Agricultural, financial, developmental
Implies Conscious Effort
Usually not
Yes
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Grow and Raise Definitions
Grow
To grow can mean to expand, as in businesses or economies.
The company continues to grow despite market fluctuations.
Raise
Raise can refer to bringing up or educating a child.
It takes a lot of effort to raise children properly.
Grow
Grow can also imply becoming progressively greater, as in emotions or relationships.
Our friendship continues to grow stronger every day.
Raise
To raise can mean to collect or accumulate, as in funds or support.
The charity event managed to raise a significant amount of money.
Grow
To increase in size by a natural process.
Raise
Raise can also imply increasing the amount, level, or strength of something.
The company decided to raise the salary of its employees.
Grow
To expand; gain
The business grew under new owners.
Raise
To move to a higher position; elevate
Raised the loads with a crane.
Grow
To increase in amount or degree; intensify
The suspense grew.
Raise
To set in an upright or erect position
Raise a flagpole.
Grow
To develop and reach maturity.
Raise
To erect or build
Raise a new building.
Grow
To be capable of growth; thrive
A plant that grows in shade.
Raise
To cause to arise, appear, or exist
The slap raised a welt.
Grow
To become attached by or as if by the process of growth
Tree trunks that had grown together.
Raise
To increase in size, quantity, or worth
Raise an employee's salary.
Grow
To come into existence from a source; spring up
Love that grew from friendship.
Raise
To increase in intensity, degree, strength, or pitch
Raised his voice.
Grow
To come to be by a gradual process or by degrees; become
Grow angry.
Grow closer.
Raise
To improve in rank or dignity; promote
Raised her to management level.
Grow
To cause to grow; raise
Grow tulips.
Raise
To grow, especially in quantity; cultivate
Raise corn and soybeans.
Grow
To allow (something) to develop or increase by a natural process
Grow a beard.
Raise
To breed and care for to maturity
Raise cattle.
Grow
Usage Problem To cause to increase or expand by concerted effort
Strategies that grew the family business.
Raise
To bring up; rear
Raise children.
Grow
(ergative) To become larger, to increase in magnitude.
Children grow quickly.
Raise
To accustom to something from an early age
"a post-World War II generation raised on shopping malls and multiplex cinemas" (Gustav Niebuhr).
Grow
To undergo growth; to be present somewhere
Apples now grow all over the world.
Raise
To put forward for consideration
Raised an important question. See Synonyms at broach1.
Grow
(intransitive) To appear or sprout.
Leaf buds grew on the trees with the advance of spring.
A long tail began to grow from his backside.
Raise
To voice; utter
Raise a shout.
Grow
(intransitive) To develop, to mature.
As I grew throughout adolescence, I came to appreciate many things about human nature.
Raise
To awaken; arouse
Noise that would raise the dead.
Grow
(transitive) To cause or allow something to become bigger, especially to cultivate plants.
He grows peppers and squash each summer in his garden.
Have you ever grown your hair before?
Raise
To stir up; instigate
Raise a revolt.
Grow
(copulative) To assume a condition or quality over time.
The boy grew wise as he matured.
The town grew smaller and smaller in the distance as we travelled.
You have grown strong.
Raise
To bring about; provoke
Remarks intended to raise a laugh.
Grow
To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
Raise
To make contact with by radio
Couldn't raise the control tower after midnight.
Grow
To increase in size by a natural and organic process; to increase in bulk by the gradual assimilation of new matter into the living organism; - said of animals and vegetables and their organs.
Raise
To gather together; collect
Raise money from the neighbors for a charity.
Grow
To increase in any way; to become larger and stronger; to be augmented; to advance; to extend; to wax; to accrue.
Winter began to grow fast on.
Even just the sum that I do owe to youIs growing to me by Antipholus.
Raise
To cause (dough) to puff up.
Grow
To spring up and come to maturity in a natural way; to be produced by vegetation; to thrive; to flourish; as, rice grows in warm countries.
Where law faileth, error groweth.
Raise
To end (a siege) by withdrawing troops or forcing the enemy troops to withdraw.
Grow
To pass from one state to another; to result as an effect from a cause; to become; as, to grow pale.
For his mindHad grown Suspicion's sanctuary.
Raise
To remove or withdraw (an order).
Grow
To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow.
These wars have grown out of commercial considerations.
Raise
To increase (a poker bet).
Grow
To cause to grow; to cultivate; to produce; as, to grow a crop; to grow wheat, hops, or tobacco.
Raise
To bet more than (a preceding bettor in poker).
Grow
Pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become;
The weather turned nasty
She grew angry
Raise
To increase the bid of (one's bridge partner).
Grow
Become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain;
The problem grew too large for me
Her business grew fast
Raise
(Nautical) To bring into sight by approaching nearer
Raised the Cape.
Grow
Increase in size by natural process;
Corn doesn't grow here
In these forests, mushrooms grow under the trees
Raise
To alter and increase fraudulently the written value of (a check, for example).
Grow
Cause to grow or develop;
He grows vegetables in his backyard
Raise
To cough up (phlegm).
Grow
Develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation;
He matured fast
The child grew fast
Raise
(Scots) To make angry; enrage.
Grow
Come into existence; take on form or shape;
A new religious movement originated in that country
A love that sprang up from friendship
The idea for the book grew out of a short story
An interesting phenomenon uprose
Raise
To increase a poker bet or a bridge bid.
Grow
Cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques;
The Bordeaux region produces great red wines
They produce good ham in Parma
We grow wheat here
We raise hogs here
Raise
The act of raising or increasing.
Grow
Come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes);
He grew a beard
The patient developed abdominal pains
I got funny spots all over my body
Well-developed breasts
Raise
An increase in salary.
Grow
Grow emotionally or mature;
The child developed beautifully in her new kindergarten
When he spent a summer at camp, the boy grew noticeably and no longer showed some of his old adolescent behavior
Raise
(physical) To cause to rise; to lift or elevate.
To raise your hand if you want to say something; to raise your walking stick to defend yourself
Grow
Become attached by or as if by the process of growth;
The tree trunks had grown together
Raise
To form by the accumulation of materials or constituent parts; to build up; to erect.
To raise a wall, or a heap of stones
Grow
To grow means to increase in size or amount over time.
The small seed will grow into a large tree.
Raise
To cause something to come to the surface of water.
The ship was raised ten years after it had sunk.
Grow
Grow can refer to the process of developing or maturing physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Children grow rapidly in their early years.
Raise
(nautical) To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher by drawing nearer to it.
To raise Sandy Hook light
Grow
Grow can denote the natural development of plants, organisms, or bodies.
The plants grow best with plenty of sunlight and water.
Raise
To make (bread, etc.) light, as by yeast or leaven.
Raise
(figurative) To cause (a dead person) to live again; to resurrect.
The magic spell raised the dead from their graves!
Raise
(military) To remove or break up (a blockade), either by withdrawing the ships or forces employed in enforcing it, or by driving them away or dispersing them.
Raise
To relinquish (a siege), or cause this to be done.
Raise
(transitive) To create, increase or develop.
We need to raise the motivation level in the company.
To raise the quality of the products; to raise the price of goods; to raise (increase) taxes
Raise
To collect or amass.
To raise a lot of money for charity; to raise troops
Raise
(obsolete) To call up the forces of, to raise the troops from.
Raise
To bring up; to grow.
We visited a farm where they raise chickens.
Chew with your mouth shut — were you raised in a barn?
Raise
To promote.
To raise somebody to office
Raise
To mention (a question, issue) for discussion.
A few important questions were raised after the attack.
Raise
(legal) To create; to constitute (a use, or a beneficial interest in property).
There should be some consideration (i.e., payment or exchange) to raise a use.
Raise
To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise, come forth, or appear.
Starting in January we will raise (introduce) taxes on all tobacco substitutes and vaping accessories.
Raise
To establish contact with (e.g., by telephone or radio).
Despite all the call congestion, she was eventually able to raise the police.
Raise
To respond to a bet by increasing the amount required to continue in the hand.
John bet, and Julie raised, requiring John to put in more money.
Raise
(arithmetic) To exponentiate, to involute.
Two raised to the fifth power equals 32.
Raise
To extract (a subject or other verb argument) out of an inner clause.
Raise
To produce a vowel with the tongue positioned closer to the roof of the mouth.
Raise
To increase the nominal value of (a cheque, money order, etc.) by fraudulently changing the writing or printing in which the sum payable is specified.
Raise
To instantiate and transmit (an exception, by throwing it, or an event).
A division by zero will raise an exception.
Raise
To open, initiate.
I will raise a trouble-ticket in order to correct this reporting issue.
Raise
(US) pay raise: an increase in wages or salary.
The boss gave me a raise.
Raise
(weightlifting) A shoulder exercise in which the arms are elevated against resistance.
Raise
(curling) A shot in which the delivered stone bumps another stone forward.
Raise
(poker) A bet that increases the previous bet.
Raise
A cairn or pile of stones.
Raise
To cause to rise; to bring from a lower to a higher place; to lift upward; to elevate; to heave; as, to raise a stone or weight.
Raise
To bring to a higher condition or situation; to elevate in rank, dignity, and the like; to increase the value or estimation of; to promote; to exalt; to advance; to enhance; as, to raise from a low estate; to raise to office; to raise the price, and the like.
This gentleman came to be raised to great titles.
The plate pieces of eight were raised three pence in the piece.
Raise
To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or posture; to set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast or flagstaff.
Raise
To increase the strength, vigor, or vehemence of; to excite; to intensify; to invigorate; to heighten; as, to raise the pulse; to raise the voice; to raise the spirits or the courage; to raise the heat of a furnace.
Raise
To cause to spring up from a recumbent position, from a state of quiet, or the like; to awaken; to arouse.
They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
Raise
To cause to arise, grow up, or come into being or to appear; to give rise to; to originate, produce, cause, effect, or the like.
Raise
To elevate in degree according to some scale; as, to raise the pitch of the voice; to raise the temperature of a room.
Raise
To rouse to action; to stir up; to incite to tumult, struggle, or war; to excite.
He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind.
Æneas . . . employs his pains,In parts remote, to raise the Tuscan swains.
Raise
To form by the accumulation of materials or constituent parts; to build up; to erect; as, to raise a lofty structure, a wall, a heap of stones.
I will raise forts against thee.
Raise
To cause to rise, as by the effect of leaven; to make light and spongy, as bread.
Miss Liddy can dance a jig, and raise paste.
Raise
To bring up from the lower world; to call up, as a spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from death; to give life to.
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead ?
Raise
To bring together; to collect; to levy; to get together or obtain for use or service; as, to raise money, troops, and the like.
Raise
To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher by drawing nearer to it; as, to raise Sandy Hook light.
Raise
To cause to grow; to procure to be produced, bred, or propagated; to grow; as, to raise corn, barley, hops, etc.; toraise cattle.
I was raised, as they say in Virginia, among the mountains of the North.
Raise
To create or constitute; as, to raise a use, that is, to create it.
Raise
To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise, come forth, or appear; - often with up.
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee.
God vouchsafes to raise another worldFrom him [Noah], and all his anger to forget.
Raise
To give rise to; to set agoing; to occasion; to start; to originate; as, to raise a smile or a blush.
Thou shalt not raise a false report.
Raise
To give vent or utterance to; to utter; to strike up.
Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry.
Raise
To bring to notice; to submit for consideration; as, to raise a point of order; to raise an objection.
Raise
The amount a salary is increased;
He got a 3% raise
He got a wage hike
Raise
An upward slope or grade (as in a road);
The car couldn't make it up the rise
Raise
Increasing the size of a bet (as in poker);
I'll see your raise and double it
Raise
The act of raising something;
He responded with a lift of his eyebrow
Fireman learn several different raises for getting ladders up
Raise
Raise the level or amount of something;
Raise my salary
Raise the price of bread
Raise
Raise from a lower to a higher position;
Raise your hands
Lift a load
Raise
Cause to be heard or known; express or utter;
Raise a shout
Raise a protest
Raise a sad cry
Raise
Collect funds for a specific purpose;
The President raised several million dollars for his college
Raise
Cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques;
The Bordeaux region produces great red wines
They produce good ham in Parma
We grow wheat here
We raise hogs here
Raise
Bring up;
Raise a family
Bring up children
Raise
Evoke or call forth, with or as if by magic;
Raise the specter of unemployment
He conjured wild birds in the air
Stir a disturbance
Call down the spirits from the mountain
Raise
Move upwards;
Lift one's eyes
Raise
Construct, build, or erect;
Raise a barn
Raise
Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses);
Arouse pity
Raise a smile
Evoke sympathy
Raise
Create a disturbance, especially by making a great noise;
Raise hell
Raise the roof
Raise Cain
Raise
Raise in rank or condition;
The new law lifted many people from poverty
Raise
Increase;
This will enhance your enjoyment
Heighten the tension
Raise
Give a promotion to or assign to a higher position;
John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired
Women tend not to advance in the major law firms
I got promoted after many years of hard work
Raise
Cause to puff up with a leaven;
Unleavened bread
Raise
In bridge: bid (one's partner's suit) at a higher level
Raise
Bet more than the previous player
Raise
Cause to assemble or enlist in the military;
Raise an army
Recruit new soldiers
Raise
Put forward for consideration or discussion;
Raise the question of promotions
Bring up an unpleasant topic
Raise
Pronounce (vowels) by bringing the tongue closer to the roof of the mouth;
Raise your `o'
Raise
Activate or stir up;
Raise a mutiny
Raise
Establish radio communications with;
They managed to raise Hanoi last night
Raise
Multiply (a number) by itself a specified number of times: 8 is 2 raised to the power 3
Raise
Bring (a surface, a design, etc.) into relief and cause to project;
Raised edges
Raise
Invigorate or heighten;
Lift my spirits
Lift his ego
Raise
Put an end to;
Lift a ban
Raise a siege
Raise
Cause to become alive again;
Raise from the dead
Slavery is already dead, and cannot be resurrected
Upraising ghosts
Raise
To raise means to lift or move to a higher position or level.
They raise the flag every morning.
Raise
Raise can denote cultivating and breeding animals.
Farmers raise livestock for various agricultural products.
FAQs
Can ‘grow’ be used in a financial context?
Yes, ‘grow’ can be used to denote the natural increase or expansion in financial contexts, like growing wealth.
Does ‘raise’ imply a conscious effort?
Yes, ‘raise’ usually implies deliberate, nurtured elevation or cultivation.
Can businesses ‘grow’?
Yes, businesses can ‘grow’ to denote expansion or increase in size, wealth, etc.
Can ‘raise’ be used to refer to plants?
Generally, plants are said to ‘grow’ while ‘raise’ is more suitable for animals or funds.
Can ‘raise’ be used to refer to a natural or organic process?
Typically, ‘raise’ denotes deliberate actions and is not used to describe natural or organic processes.
Can ‘grow’ be used to refer to raising children?
Typically, ‘grow’ refers to natural development, and ‘raise’ is more appropriate for referring to bringing up children.
Does ‘grow’ always involve human intervention?
‘Grow’ usually denotes a natural or organic process, often not requiring human intervention.
Can ‘raise’ denote cultivating and breeding animals?
Yes, ‘raise’ is the suitable term for denoting the cultivation and breeding of animals.
Can you ‘raise’ the level of something?
Yes, ‘raise’ can be used to imply increasing the amount, level, or strength of something.
Can you ‘raise’ awareness?
Yes, ‘raise’ is commonly used to denote the act of increasing awareness or consciousness.
Does ‘grow’ imply becoming progressively greater?
Yes, ‘grow’ can imply becoming progressively greater, as in emotions or relationships.
Can ‘raise’ refer to increasing in size or amount over time?
‘Raise’ usually refers to actively promoting or elevating, rather than a natural increase in size or amount.
Is ‘grow’ suitable for referring to personal development?
Yes, ‘grow’ is suitable for referring to the process of developing or maturing physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Is ‘grow’ a synonym for ‘raise’?
While seemingly synonymous in some contexts, ‘grow’ and ‘raise’ have distinctions, especially in the nature and involvement of the developmental process.
Can emotions ‘grow’?
Yes, emotions can ‘grow’ to denote becoming progressively greater or more intense.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
