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

Airlines have cut 13,000 flights globally in May as jet fuel prices soar due to the conflict in the Middle East.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

But in April, that calculus began to shift in many markets as the cost of plastics used in car parts, toys, bottles, food containers, cosmetics and many other products began to soar.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

That came as International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned the world faced a "major energy and economic challenge" as oil prices soar, and warned of "the biggest energy crisis in history".

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The truth is that besides launching majestic fly balls that soar into the deepest regions of the outfield stands, Murakami doesn’t do much else.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Never had he suspected that foxes might soar like birds, whose swooping arcs were not like any movement he himself could achieve.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

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