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Grow vs. Rise — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 26, 2024
Growth refers to an increase in size, quantity, or quality, while rising implies upward movement or an increase in position or value.
Grow vs. Rise — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Grow and Rise

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Key Differences

Growth is a process that can apply to living organisms, economies, or personal development, indicating an increase or expansion in size, quantity, or quality over time. It's often used in contexts such as plants growing in size, individuals growing in knowledge, or businesses growing in revenue. On the other hand, rising is associated with upward movement or an increase in position, level, or value, and can be used in various contexts, such as the sun rising, prices rising in the market, or someone rising in their career.
While growth emphasizes development and expansion, rising focuses on movement from a lower to a higher position or state. For instance, a company can grow in terms of its workforce size or market share, indicating expansion, whereas its stock prices can rise, indicating an increase in value.
In biology, growth is critical to life processes, encompassing physical, cellular, and genetic changes, such as a child growing taller or a plant growing larger. In contrast, rising might be used more metaphorically, such as when discussing temperatures rising or sea levels rising, which involves upward movement rather than expansion.
The concept of growth is often more comprehensive, encompassing not just an increase in size or number but also improvements in quality and capability. Rising, however, is more specific to the notion of ascent or elevation in position, status, or value, and does not necessarily imply development or expansion.
Economic contexts also differentiate these terms: economic growth refers to an increase in the output of goods and services in an economy, reflecting expansion and development, while inflation might cause prices to rise, which is simply an increase in price levels rather than an indication of economic development or improvement.
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Comparison Chart

XDefinition

Increase in size, quantity, or quality.
Upward movement or increase in position or value.

Contexts

Biology, personal development, business expansion.
Movement, prices, career advancement.

Focus

Development and expansion.
Ascent or elevation.

Implication

Encompasses improvements in capability and quality.
Indicates an increase in level or status, not necessarily development.

Examples

Plant growth, increase in knowledge, business growth.
Sun rising, prices rising, rising in career.

Compare with Definitions

Grow

Involves personal development or learning.
She grew in confidence after the public speaking course.

Rise

Used metaphorically to denote improvement or success.
His spirits rose upon hearing the good news.

Grow

Refers to an organism increasing in size.
The oak tree grew to an impressive height over the years.

Rise

Implies an upward movement or increase.
The balloons rose quickly into the sky.

Grow

Can imply a business expanding its operations.
The company grew rapidly, doubling its workforce in two years.

Rise

Refers to advancement in status or position.
She rose to the position of CEO after ten years with the company.

Grow

Indicates an increase in quantity or quality.
Their investment portfolio grew by 15% last year.

Rise

Can indicate an increase in value or price.
The stock prices rose after the successful product launch.

Grow

Often associated with a process or progress over time.
His interest in science grew as he read more on the subject.

Rise

Involves physical elevation.
The hikers watched the sun rise at the summit.

Grow

(of a living thing) undergo natural development by increasing in size and changing physically
He would watch Nick grow to manhood
Grown men don't act so stupidly

Rise

To assume a standing position after lying, sitting, or kneeling.

Grow

Become larger or greater over a period of time; increase
Turnover grew to more than $100,000 within three years

Rise

To get out of bed
Rose at dawn.

Grow

Become gradually or increasingly
Sharing our experiences we grew braver

Rise

To move from a lower to a higher position; ascend
Hot air rises.

Grow

To increase in size by a natural process.

Rise

To increase in size, volume, or level
The river rises every spring.

Grow

To expand; gain
The business grew under new owners.

Rise

To increase in number, amount, or value
Prices are rising.

Grow

To increase in amount or degree; intensify
The suspense grew.

Rise

To increase in intensity, force, or speed
The wind has risen.

Grow

To develop and reach maturity.

Rise

To increase in pitch or volume
The sound of their voices rose and fell.

Grow

To be capable of growth; thrive
A plant that grows in shade.

Rise

To ascend above the horizon
The moon rose an hour after sunset.

Grow

To become attached by or as if by the process of growth
Tree trunks that had grown together.

Rise

To extend upward; be prominent
The tower rose above the hill.

Grow

To come into existence from a source; spring up
Love that grew from friendship.

Rise

To slant or slope upward
Denali rises to nearly 6,200 meters.

Grow

To come to be by a gradual process or by degrees; become
Grow angry.
Grow closer.

Rise

To come into existence; originate
Bitterness that rose from hard experience.

Grow

To cause to grow; raise
Grow tulips.

Rise

To be erected
New buildings are rising in the city.

Grow

To allow (something) to develop or increase by a natural process
Grow a beard.

Rise

To appear at the surface of the water or the earth; emerge.

Grow

Usage Problem To cause to increase or expand by concerted effort
Strategies that grew the family business.

Rise

To puff up or become larger; swell up
The bread dough should rise to double its original size.

Grow

(ergative) To become larger, to increase in magnitude.
Children grow quickly.

Rise

To become stiff and erect
The hair rose on the cat's neck.

Grow

To undergo growth; to be present somewhere
Apples now grow all over the world.

Rise

To attain a higher status
An officer who rose through the ranks.

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.

Rise

To become apparent to the mind or senses
Old fears rose to haunt me.

Grow

(intransitive) To develop, to mature.
As I grew throughout adolescence, I came to appreciate many things about human nature.

Rise

To uplift oneself to meet a demand or challenge
She rose to the occasion and won the election.

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?

Rise

To return to life
Rose from the dead.

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.

Rise

To rebel
"the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government" (Abraham Lincoln).

Grow

To become attached or fixed; to adhere.

Rise

To close a session of an official assembly; adjourn.

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.

Rise

To cause to rise
The dogs will rise the pheasants.

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.

Rise

To cause (a distant object at sea) to become visible above the horizon by advancing closer.

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.

Rise

The act of rising; an ascent.

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.

Rise

The degree of elevation or ascent.

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.

Rise

The first appearance of a celestial object as it ascends above the horizon.

Grow

To cause to grow; to cultivate; to produce; as, to grow a crop; to grow wheat, hops, or tobacco.

Rise

An increase in height, as of the level of water.

Grow

Pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become;
The weather turned nasty
She grew angry

Rise

A gently sloped hill.

Grow

Become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain;
The problem grew too large for me
Her business grew fast

Rise

A long broad elevation that slopes gently from the earth's surface or the ocean floor.

Grow

Increase in size by natural process;
Corn doesn't grow here
In these forests, mushrooms grow under the trees

Rise

An origin, beginning, or source
The rise of the novel.

Grow

Cause to grow or develop;
He grows vegetables in his backyard

Rise

Occasion or opportunity
Facts that give rise to doubts about her motives.

Grow

Develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation;
He matured fast
The child grew fast

Rise

The emergence of a fish seeking food or bait at the water's surface.

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

Rise

An increase in price, worth, quantity, or degree.

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

Rise

An increase in intensity, volume, or pitch.

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

Rise

Elevation in status, prosperity, or importance
The family's rise in New York society.

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

Rise

The height of a flight of stairs or of a single riser.

Grow

Become attached by or as if by the process of growth;
The tree trunks had grown together

Rise

Chiefly British An increase in salary or wages; a raise.

Rise

(Informal) An angry or irritated reaction
Finally got a rise out of her.

Rise

The distance between the crotch and waistband in pants, shorts, or underwear.

Rise

(intransitive) To move, or appear to move, physically upwards relative to the ground.

Rise

To move upwards.
We watched the balloon rise.

Rise

To grow upward; to attain a certain height.
This elm tree rises to a height of seventy feet.

Rise

To slope upward.
The path rises as you approach the foot of the hill.

Rise

(of a celestial body) To appear to move upwards from behind the horizon of a planet as a result of the planet's rotation.
The sun was rising in the East.

Rise

To become erect; to assume an upright position.
To rise from a chair or from a fall

Rise

To leave one's bed; to get up.

Rise

(figurative) To be resurrected.
He rose from the grave;
He is risen!

Rise

(figurative) To terminate an official sitting; to adjourn.
The committee rose after agreeing to the report.

Rise

(intransitive) To increase in value or standing.

Rise

To attain a higher status.

Rise

Of a quantity, price, etc., to increase.

Rise

To become more and more dignified or forcible; to increase in interest or power; said of style, thought, or discourse.
To rise in force of expression; to rise in eloquence;
A story rises in interest.

Rise

To ascend on a musical scale; to take a higher pitch.
To rise a tone or semitone

Rise

To begin, to develop; to be initiated.

Rise

To become active, effective or operational, especially in response to an external or internal stimulus.
To rise to the occasion
Thus far, my intellect has been able to rise sufficiently to meet every academic challenge that I have encountered.
As Patrick continued to goad me, I felt my temper rising towards the limits of my self control.

Rise

To develop.
As hunger and despondency became more intense, a determination rose within me to find a way of getting off the desert island.

Rise

To swell or puff up in the process of fermentation; to become light.
Has that dough risen yet?

Rise

(of a river) To have its source (in a particular place).

Rise

To become perceptible to the senses, other than sight.
A noise rose on the air;
Odour rises from the flower

Rise

To become agitated, opposed, or hostile; to go to war; to take up arms; to rebel.

Rise

To come to mind; to be suggested; to occur.

Rise

(transitive) To go up; to ascend; to climb.
To rise a hill

Rise

(transitive) To cause to go up or ascend.
To rise a fish, or cause it to come to the surface of the water
To rise a ship, or bring it above the horizon by approaching it

Rise

(obsolete) To retire; to give up a siege.

Rise

To come; to offer itself.

Rise

To be lifted, or capable of being lifted, from the imposing stone without dropping any of the type; said of a form.

Rise

The process of or an action or instance of coming to prominence.
The rise of the working class.
The rise of the printing press.
The rise of the feminists.

Rise

An increase in a quantity, price, etc.

Rise

Ellipsis of pay risean increase in wage or salary.
The governor just gave me a rise of two pound six.

Rise

The amount of material extending from waist to crotch in a pair of trousers or shorts.
The rise of his pants was so low that his tailbone was exposed.

Rise

An area of terrain that tends upward away from the viewer, such that it conceals the region behind it; a slope.

Rise

(informal) A very noticeable visible or audible reaction of a person or group.
Making fun of their football team is one sure way to get a rise from a crowd.
She really got a rise from the audience when she donned a wig and talked like the president.

Rise

(architecture) The height of an arch or a step.
As the rise, i.e. height, of the arch decreases, the outward thrust increases.
Each step had a rise of 170 mm and a going of 250 mm.

Rise

Alternative form of rice

Rise

To move from a lower position to a higher; to ascend; to mount up. Specifically: - (a) To go upward by walking, climbing, flying, or any other voluntary motion; as, a bird rises in the air; a fish rises to the bait.

Rise

To ascend or float in a fluid, as gases or vapors in air, cork in water, and the like.

Rise

To have the aspect or the effect of rising.

Rise

To move upward under the influence of a projecting force; as, a bullet rises in the air.

Rise

To appear above the horizont, as the sun, moon, stars, and the like.

Rise

To increase in size, force, or value; to proceed toward a climax.

Rise

To grow upward; to attain a certain height; as, this elm rises to the height of seventy feet.

Rise

To become apparent; to emerge into sight; to come forth; to appear; as, an eruption rises on the skin; the land rises to view to one sailing toward the shore.

Rise

To increase in power or fury; - said of wind or a storm, and hence, of passion.

Rise

In various figurative senses.

Rise

To reach a higher level by increase of quantity or bulk; to swell; as, a river rises in its bed; the mercury rises in the thermometer.

Rise

To become perceptible to other senses than sight; as, a noise rose on the air; odor rises from the flower.

Rise

To become of higher value; to increase in price.
Bullion is risen to six shillings . . . the ounce.

Rise

To become excited, opposed, or hostile; to go to war; to take up arms; to rebel.
At our heels all hell should riseWith blackest insurrection.
No more shall nation against nation rise.

Rise

To ascend from the grave; to come to life.
But now is Christ risen from the dead.

Rise

To become erect; to assume an upright position; as, to rise from a chair or from a fall.

Rise

To have a beginning; to proceed; to originate; as, rivers rise in lakes or springs.
A scepter shall rise out of Israel.
Honor and shame from no condition rise.

Rise

To become larger; to swell; - said of a boil, tumor, and the like.

Rise

To attain to a better social position; to be promoted; to excel; to succeed.
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.

Rise

To terminate an official sitting; to adjourn; as, the committee rose after agreeing to the report.
It was near nine . . . before the House rose.

Rise

To leave one's bed; to arise; as, to rise early.
He that would thrive, must rise by five.

Rise

To increase in intensity; - said of heat.

Rise

To become more and more dignified or forcible; to increase in interest or power; - said of style, thought, or discourse; as, to rise in force of expression; to rise in eloquence; a story rises in interest.

Rise

To ascend on a musical scale; to take a higher pith; as, to rise a tone or semitone.

Rise

To tower up; to be heaved up; as, the Alps rise far above the sea.

Rise

To become louder, or higher in pitch, as the voice.

Rise

To come to mind; to be suggested; to occur.
A thought rose in me, which often perplexes men of contemplative natures.

Rise

To be lifted, or to admit of being lifted, from the imposing stone without dropping any of the type; - said of a form.

Rise

To slope upward; as, a path, a line, or surface rises in this direction.

Rise

To increase in amount; to enlarge; as, his expenses rose beyond his expectations.

Rise

To come; to offer itself.
There chanced to the prince's hand to riseAn ancient book.

Rise

To retire; to give up a siege.
He, rising with small honor from Gunza, . . . was gone.

Rise

To swell or puff up in the process of fermentation; to become light, as dough, and the like.

Rise

To go up; to ascend; to climb; as, to rise a hill.

Rise

To cause to rise; as, to rise a fish, or cause it to come to the surface of the water; to rise a ship, or bring it above the horizon by approaching it; to raise.
Until we rose the bark we could not pretend to call it a chase.

Rise

The act of rising, or the state of being risen.

Rise

The distance through which anything rises; as, the rise of the thermometer was ten degrees; the rise of the river was six feet; the rise of an arch or of a step.

Rise

Land which is somewhat higher than the rest; as, the house stood on a rise of land.

Rise

Spring; source; origin; as, the rise of a stream.
All wickednes taketh its rise from the heart.

Rise

Appearance above the horizon; as, the rise of the sun or of a planet.

Rise

Increase; advance; augmentation, as of price, value, rank, property, fame, and the like.
The rise or fall that may happen in his constant revenue by a Spanish war.

Rise

Increase of sound; a swelling of the voice.
The ordinary rises and falls of the voice.

Rise

Elevation or ascent of the voice; upward change of key; as, a rise of a tone or semitone.

Rise

The spring of a fish to seize food (as a fly) near the surface of the water.

Rise

A growth in strength or number or importance

Rise

The act of changing location in an upward direction

Rise

An upward slope or grade (as in a road);
The car couldn't make it up the rise

Rise

A movement upward;
They cheered the rise of the hot-air balloon

Rise

The amount a salary is increased;
He got a 3% raise
He got a wage hike

Rise

The property possessed by a slope or surface that rises

Rise

A wave that lifts the surface of the water or ground

Rise

(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost;
The emanation of the Holy Spirit
The rising of the Holy Ghost
The doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son

Rise

An increase in cost;
They asked for a 10% rise in rates

Rise

Increase in price or value;
The news caused a general advance on the stock market

Rise

Move upward;
The fog lifted
The smoke arose from the forest fire
The mist uprose from the meadows

Rise

Increase in value or to a higher point;
Prices climbed steeply
The value of our house rose sharply last year

Rise

Rise to one's feet;
The audience got up and applauded

Rise

Rise up;
The building rose before them

Rise

Come to the surface

Rise

Become more extreme;
The tension heightened

Rise

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

Rise

Be promoted, move to a better position

Rise

Go up or advance;
Sales were climbing after prices were lowered

Rise

Get up and out of bed;
I get up at 7 A.M. every day
They rose early
He uprose at night

Rise

Rise in rank or status;
Her new novel jumped high on the bestseller list

Rise

Increase in volume;
The dough rose slowly in the warm room

Rise

Become heartened or elated;
Her spirits rose when she heard the good news

Rise

Exert oneself to meet a challenge;
Rise to a challenge
Rise to the occasion

Rise

Take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance

Rise

Come up, of celestial bodies;
The sun also rises
The sun uprising sees the dusk night fled...
Jupiter ascends

Rise

Return from the dead;
Christ is risen!
The dead are to uprise

Common Curiosities

How do you measure growth in a personal context?

Personal growth can be measured by improvements in skills, knowledge, emotional intelligence, and achievements towards personal goals, often reflecting a qualitative assessment of development.

Can "grow" and "rise" be used interchangeably?

While they can sometimes be used in similar contexts, they're not interchangeable as "grow" emphasizes development and expansion, and "rise" focuses on upward movement or increase in position or value.

What does it mean when interest rates rise?

When interest rates rise, it means the cost of borrowing money increases, impacting loans and mortgages. This can slow consumer spending and investment but is often used to control inflation.

What does it mean for a company to grow?

For a company to grow means it's expanding in some capacity, such as increasing revenue, market share, or workforce, indicating overall development and progress.

Can a person's confidence grow and rise?

A person's confidence can both grow and rise; it grows through personal development and accumulated successes, and it rises in response to positive experiences or achievements.

How does something rise in value?

Something rises in value when its price or worth increases, often due to higher demand, improved quality, or favorable market conditions.

What causes stock prices to rise?

Stock prices can rise due to factors like strong company performance, positive industry news, investor sentiment, and general economic conditions that increase investor confidence in the company's future prospects.

How do companies measure growth?

Companies measure growth through various metrics such as revenue increase, profit margin expansion, market share growth, and the scaling of operations or production capabilities.

Is economic growth the same as prices rising?

No, economic growth refers to the overall increase in the economy's output and health, while prices rising, often due to inflation, merely reflects an increase in price levels, not necessarily economic improvement.

Can "rise" refer to social or political movements?

Yes, "rise" can refer to the emergence or growth of social or political movements, indicating an increase in their influence, membership, or visibility.

What environmental factors contribute to plant growth?

Environmental factors contributing to plant growth include sunlight, water, soil quality, temperature, and the availability of nutrients, all of which are essential for photosynthesis and healthy development.

What factors can cause a currency's value to rise?

Factors causing a currency's value to rise include high interest rates in the country, economic growth, political stability, and high demand for the country's goods and services internationally.

What does it mean for sea levels to rise?

Sea levels rise due to the melting of ice caps and glaciers and the expansion of seawater as it warms. This phenomenon is primarily linked to climate change and can lead to coastal erosion and increased flooding.

How does personal growth impact mental health?

Personal growth positively impacts mental health by enhancing self-esteem, resilience, life satisfaction, and the ability to cope with challenges, contributing to overall well-being.

What is the difference between physical growth and intellectual growth?

Physical growth refers to changes in body size and function, such as height and strength increases, while intellectual growth involves the development of mental faculties and knowledge acquisition.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.

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