soar
Americanverb (used without object)
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soars,
present (3rd person singular)
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soared,
past participle, past
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soaring
present participle
noun
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an act or instance of soaring.
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the height attained in soaring.
verb
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to rise or fly upwards into the air
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(of a bird, aircraft, etc) to glide while maintaining altitude by the use of ascending air currents
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to rise or increase in volume, size, etc
soaring prices
noun
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the act of soaring
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the altitude attained by soaring
Synonym Usage
See fly 2.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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soarsimple
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soarssimple
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have soaredperfect
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has soaredperfect
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am soaringprogressive
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are soaringprogressive
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is soaringprogressive
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have been soaringperfect progressive
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has been soaringperfect progressive
Past
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soaredsimple
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had soaredperfect
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was soaringprogressive
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were soaringprogressive
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had been soaringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of soar
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English soren, from Middle French essorer, from unattested Vulgar Latin exaurāre, equivalent to Latin ex- ex- 1 + aur(a) “air” + -āre infinitive suffix
Explanation
To soar means more than just to fly; it means to rise swiftly, to feel the wind slipping below you as you ride it higher, higher, higher. Flying is just moving through the air. Soaring, though, suggests exhilaration, even joy. Think about the anticipation you feel when you buy a lottery ticket — your hopes soar as you contemplate the possibilities. It's the same wonderful feeling you get when someone you have a crush on notices you, when you land that perfect job, when you hold your child. The word soar comes from the Latin, ex-, which means "out," and aura, meaning "breeze, air," together meaning "out of the air," which is precisely how it feels to soar.
Vocabulary lists containing soar
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Metaphors from Top AP English Exam Novels
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Higher Learning: Synonyms For "Up"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
While interest rates can still soar from here, one way to avoid most of the price risk is with ultrashort bond funds.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
When temperatures soar, the city’s recreation centers welcome residents who lack air conditioning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Xi and Trump agreed to a trade truce last year during a meeting in South Korea, after a tit-for-tat fight that saw tariffs soar over 100 percent at one point.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
One factor helping microcap stocks soar is the veneer of respectability of a listing on Nasdaq instead of less-reputable, over-the-counter venues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
With Tiamat he would slither into jewel-studded caves, soar through ash-dark skies, and study ancient mysteries.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
Wilde, meanwhile, soars to ever greater professional heights, writes more drama, infiltrates more high-class drawing rooms and maintains a Zelig-like presence at the great events of his prolonged day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Solaris Energy stock soars after the company raises quarterly guidance expectations that tops Wall Street forecasts.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
As Amazon soars, nowhere is Bezos’ astronomical wealth more tangibly displayed than in his $500 million real estate empire.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Off the entry and through an archway, the architectural heart of the century-old home soars upward: the living room’s open-beam, 25-foot ceiling with its original deep teal stain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
The number of kids signing up for tesserae soars, but they often don’t receive their grain.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
The stock market has also soared around 70 percent since the start of the year.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
And bitcoin soared 457% before it peaked at $124,836 on Oct.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
The case triggered a broader movement across the country demanding affordable rentals, which have soared in recent years.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
He found junior receiver KJ Woodbury in the end zone with a 37-yard floater that soared over the defense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
Buildings soared up higher than Dicey could see out the window.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
It has taken the biggest hit after the war with Iran sent gas prices soaring, hurting the beleaguered industry that hauls 70% of all freight in America.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Brazil is battling soaring public debt exacerbated by high interest rates, and the election result saw the Sao Paulo stock exchange rally to record highs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with soaring ceilings and expansive floor plans.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
Rawlings and Easton have seen soaring revenue from the high-end youth bats and gloves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Then he exhaled and pointed to a palace with seven towers, off by itself in the foothills of the soaring mountain range.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
