soar

American  

[sawr, sohr] / sɔr, soʊr /

verb (used without object)

1. to fly upward, as a bird.

2. to fly at a great height, without visible movements of the pinions, as a bird.

3. to glide along at a height, as an airplane.

4. to rise or ascend to a height, as a mountain.

   Synonyms:

   mount, tower

5. to rise or aspire to a higher or more exalted level.

   His hopes soared.

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noun

1. an act or instance of soaring.

2. the height attained in soaring.

soar British  

/ sɔː /

verb

1. to rise or fly upwards into the air

2. (of a bird, aircraft, etc) to glide while maintaining altitude by the use of ascending air currents

3. to rise or increase in volume, size, etc

   soaring prices

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noun

1. the act of soaring

2. the altitude attained by soaring

Related Words

See fly ².

Other Word Forms

• soarer
  noun
• soaring
  noun
• soaringly
  adverb

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.

Example Sentences

About $210 million came from Michigan’s Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, known as SOAR, set up to lure industry and jobs to the state.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2023

This latest deposit—about 5,000 oysters in total—is part of a special program known as SOAR, or Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration, a partnership between the Nature Conservancy and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

From Scientific American • Jun. 9, 2021

Marshall, a vice president of SOAR, noted that another 1.3 million Americans belong to multiemployer pension plans facing insolvencybecause of investment losses, industry consolidation and other factors over which workers had no control.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2020

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton sent a letter to Mrs. DeVos requesting information about SOAR, including whether the participating private schools complied with civil rights laws and had tested their drinking water.

From Washington Times • Jun. 2, 2019

In 2014, the airport authority launched a $75 million expansion called Project SOAR.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• ascend
• escalate
• lift
• mount
• rise
• rocket
• sail
• shoot
• shoot up
• skyrocket
• top