May we count your visit with Google Analytics? It uses cookies and sends visit data to Google. You can change this any time under Cookie choices. Privacy

 Browse the A to Z list

Soar

v. hopeful, energetic literary

What it means

Meaning 1

To fly or glide high with little visible effort.

Reach for it when describing sustained flight that appears free and elevated

Two eagles began to soar above the warming ridge.

Meaning 2

To rise rapidly in amount, quality, confidence, or success.

Reach for it when describing a large upward change while naming what actually increased

Attendance began to soar after the museum added evening hours.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
playful
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

Meaning 1: To fly or glide high with little visible effort.

  • everyday

    glide

    Fits when smooth unpowered movement is the defining action

    Careful Gliding can happen close to the ground and need not rise.

  • formal

    ascend

    Fits when upward movement should be stated neutrally

    Careful Ascending may be slow, powered, or difficult.

  • literary

    wheel

    Fits when a bird circles broadly in flight

    Careful Wheeling describes the path, not the height or ease.

Meaning 2: To rise rapidly in amount, quality, confidence, or success.

  • playful

    skyrocket

    Fits when an extremely steep numerical increase deserves vivid emphasis

    Careful Skyrocket is dramatic and often implies a troubling price increase.

  • playful

    take off

    Fits when a project suddenly gains momentum in casual speech

    Careful Take off is idiomatic and vague unless the measure follows.

  • everyday

    climb

    Fits when steady measurable increase is the honest description

    Careful Climb is more restrained and does not suggest exceptional pace.

  • warm

    flourish

    Fits when broader thriving and healthy development matter

    Careful Flourishing is gradual and multidimensional rather than a sharp rise.

  • professional

    surge

    Fits when a strong sudden rise occurs over a short period

    Careful A surge may recede quickly, while soaring can continue.

Opposites 4

  • plummet
  • descend
  • collapse
  • stagnate

Common phrases 4

  • soar above

    Kites began to soar above the dunes at noon.

  • soar through the air

    The rescued bird was soon strong enough to soar through the air.

  • prices soar

    Housing prices soar when supply cannot follow demand.

  • confidence soar

    Seeing her design work helped her confidence soar.

Usage notes

Keep in mind

The figurative sense is often used without a number. Add the measure and time period when accuracy matters.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated