What does "climb" mean?

1. (to go up using hands and feet) to move toward the top of something by using your hands and feet. 2. (to increase in level) to go up in amount, price, or position. 3. (plants growing upward) of a plant, to grow upward by attaching itself to a wall or fence. 4. (an upward journey) a journey or a period of time spent moving upward.

How do you use "climb"?

Often used with 'up' or as a transitive verb taking a direct object like 'stairs' or 'mountain'. Intransitive; often followed by 'to' and a specific number or level. Intransitive in this botanical sense.

climb — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01to go up using hands and feet

A2 · Elementary

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

v. 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'.

Synonyms

scale mount ascend

Antonyms

descend

02to increase in level

B1 · Intermediate

v. to go up in amount, price, or position.

v. 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.

Synonyms

rise soar increase

Antonyms

fall drop

03plants growing upward

B2 · Upper Intermediate Botany

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

v. 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.

Synonyms

twine creep

04an upward journey

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a journey or a period of time spent moving upward.

n. 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.”

Synonyms

ascent hike

Antonyms

descent

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “climb” in context.

Verb

01. climb slowly

“The old train began to climb slowly up the steep mountain track.”

verb + adv

02. climb the stairs

“She had to climb the stairs to the fifth floor because the elevator was broken.”

verb + noun

03. climb to the top

“It took the hikers three hours to climb to the top of the hill.”

verb + prep + noun

Noun

04. climb a ladder

“He used a tall ladder to climb onto the roof and fix the tiles.”

verb + noun

05. climb a mountain

“His lifelong dream was to climb a mountain in the Himalayas.”

verb + noun

Adverb

06. sharply climb

“Gas prices sharply climbed after the new tax was introduced.”

adv + verb

07. steadily climb

“Temperatures steadily climbed throughout the afternoon, reaching thirty degrees.”

adv + verb

From Middle English climben, from Old English climban (“to climb”), from Proto-West Germanic klimban, from Proto-Germanic klimbaną (“to climb, go up by clinging”), believed to be a nasalised variant of Proto-Germanic klibaną, klibāną (“to stick, cleave”), from Proto-Indo-European *gley- (“to stick”). Cognate with West Frisian klimme (“to climb”), Dutch klimmen (“to climb”), German klimmen (“to climb”), Old Norse klembra (“to squeeze”), Icelandic klifra (“to climb”). Related to clamber. See also clay, glue.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

climb(B1)

NOUN

climber(A2)

climbing(A2)

PHRASAL VERB

climb down(B2)