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arise

v.
US //ɝˈaɪz// UK //ɐɹˈaɪz// arise
Irregular verb past arose past participle arisen
  1. 1 to happen or start (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    to start to happen or exist, especially a problem, a question, or a difficult situation.

    to emerge or become apparent; most frequently used with abstract subjects like 'problems', 'difficulties', or 'opportunities'.

    Example

    A few unexpected problems arose during the first week of the project.

    Example

    Should any further complications arise during the transition period, the legal team must be notified immediately to mitigate potential risks.

    Usage

    This verb is intransitive and never takes a direct object.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often confuse the past forms: arise, arose, arisen. It is almost exclusively used for abstract things like 'doubts' or 'issues' in modern business English.
    Pitfall
    A problem was arisen during the meeting.
    A problem arose during the meeting.

    The verb 'arise' is intransitive and cannot be used in the passive voice.

  2. 2 to get up (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary Formal

    to get up from a bed or a chair.

    to move from a sitting, kneeling, or lying position to a standing one.

    Example

    The king arose from his throne to greet the visitors.

    Example

    He arose at dawn, feeling a renewed sense of purpose as the first light touched the valley.

    Usage

    Often used in religious or poetic contexts.

    Teacher's tip

    In everyday conversation, 'get up' or 'stand up' is much more natural. Use 'arise' only for a very dramatic or formal effect.
Origin

From Middle English arisen, from Old English ārīsan (“to arise, get up; rise; spring from, originate; spring up, ascend”), from Proto-Germanic *uzrīsaną (“to rise up, arise”), equivalent to a- + rise. Cognate with Scots arise, aryse (“to arise, rise up, come into existence”), Middle Low German errīsen (“to stand up, arise”), Old High German irrīsan (“to rise up, fall”), Gothic 𐌿𐍂𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍃𐌰𐌽 (urreisan, “to arise”). Eclipsed Middle English sourden, sorden, borrowed from Old French sordre, sourdre (“to arise, originate, fly up”).

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