# climb

/ˈkɫaɪm/ (US) · /klˈaɪm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/climb
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to go up using hands and feet

verb · CEFR A2

to move toward the top of something by using your hands and feet.

For teachers: to ascend an object or terrain by using the hands and feet for traction.

- The children love to climb the old oak tree in the backyard.
- The rescue team had to climb the sheer rock face in near-total darkness to reach the stranded hikers before the storm arrived.

Usage: Often used with 'up' or as a transitive verb taking a direct object like 'stairs' or 'mountain'.

### 2. to increase in level

verb · CEFR B1

to go up in amount, price, or position.

For teachers: to rise to a higher point, intensity, or rank.

- Temperatures are expected to climb to thirty degrees this afternoon.
- Stock prices continued to climb steadily throughout the fiscal quarter, buoyed by unexpectedly strong consumer spending data.

Usage: Intransitive; often followed by 'to' and a specific number or level.

### 3. plants growing upward

verb · CEFR B2

of a plant, to grow upward by attaching itself to a wall or fence.

For teachers: to grow upwards by clinging to a support structure via tendrils or twining stems.

- Ivy started to climb the side of the house, covering the bricks in green.
- The gardener installed a wooden trellis to encourage the clematis to climb toward the sunlight.

Usage: Intransitive in this botanical sense.

### 4. an upward journey

noun · CEFR B1

a journey or a period of time spent moving upward.

For teachers: an instance of ascending, or a route that requires upward movement.

- It was a long, difficult climb to the top of the hill, but the view was worth it.
- The final climb to the summit proved exhausting for the amateur expedition, as the thinning air made every step a struggle.

## Examples

- The long climb to the top of the hill is tiring.
- After a steep climb through the forest, the hikers finally reached a clearing with a view of the valley.
- The technical difficulty of the final climb forced the mountaineers to wait for better weather conditions before attempting the summit.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.