高まる|たかまるtakamaru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, intransitive verbto rise; to swell; to be promoted
    歓呼かんこの声こえはどよめきにまで高たかまった。↗
    The cheers swelled to a roar.
Conjugation
Dictionary form高まる(たかまる)
Polite (masu)高まります(たかまります)
Negative (nai)高まらない(たかまらない)
polite (masen)高まりません(たかまりません)
classical zu / nu高まらず・高まらぬ(たかまらず・たかまらぬ)
Past (ta)高まった(たかまった)
polite (mashita)高まりました(たかまりました)
Past negative (nakatta)高まらなかった(たかまらなかった)
polite (masen deshita)高まりませんでした(たかまりませんでした)
Te form高まって(たかまって)
Potential高まれる(たかまれる)
Passive高まられる(たかまられる)
Causative高まらせる(たかまらせる)
Causative passive高まらせられる・高まらされる(たかまらせられる・たかまらされる)
Conditional (ba)高まれば(たかまれば)
tara高まったら(たかまったら)
Volitional高まろう(たかまろう)
polite (mashou)高まりましょう(たかまりましょう)
Imperative高まれ(たかまれ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
intransitive高まるたかまる⇄transitive高めるたかめる
生産性せいさんせいが高たかまる
高まる describes a quality or state rising by itself (as in 生産性が高まる), while 高める indicates that an agent actively causes that rise (as in 社長が生産性を高める).

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym上がるあがるNeutralThe broadest word for rising or going up, and common in speech; 「高まる」 focuses on atmosphere, awareness or evaluation gradually building.
  • Synonym上昇じょうしょうNeutralFor numbers or temperature going up — an objective, data-like rise; 「高まる」 is about atmosphere or attention rising.
  • Synonym向上こうじょうNeutralFor improvement in level or ability; 「高まる」 is about atmosphere or awareness rising.
  • Synonym増すますWrittenWritten/formal prose for increasing or growing, as in 「危険が増す」; 「高まる」 is about degree rising.
  • RelatedアップCasualColloquial loanword for a raise or increase, as in 「給料アップ」; 「高まる」 leans written.
  • Related盛り上がるもりあがるNeutralFor a mood turning lively, as in 「パーティーが盛り上がる」; 「高まる」 is more written.
  • Related増えるふえるNeutralFor quantities increasing; 「高まる」 is about degree or atmosphere rising.
  • Related伸びるのびるNeutralFor growth in results or performance; 「高まる」 is about degree or atmosphere rising.
  • Related増幅ぞうふくNeutralFor signals or anxiety being amplified, as in 「不安が増幅する」; 「高まる」 is the more neutral choice.
  • Relatedこみ上げるこみあげるNeutralFor emotions welling up inside, as in 「涙がこみ上げる」; 「高まる」 is about a gradual rise.
  • Related増加ぞうかNeutralA noun for increases in quantity; 「高まる」 is about degree or atmosphere rising.
  • Related膨れ上がるふくれあがるNeutralTo swell or balloon, as in 「費用が膨れ上がる」; 「高まる」 is about degree rising.
  • Related湧き上がるわきあがるNeutralFor cheers or emotions surging up at once, as in 「歓声が湧き上がる」; 「高まる」 suggests gradual growth.
  • AntonymさがるNeutralThe rise–fall opposite of 「高まる」: to go down or fall.
  • Antonym低まるひくまるWrittenThe high–low opposite of 「高まる」: to be lowered; used less often, and leans written.

Use 「高まる」 when atmosphere, awareness, evaluation or attention gradually rises. For numbers going up pick 「上昇」 or 「上がる」; for a lively mood 「盛り上がる」; for emotions welling up 「こみ上げる」; for growing quantities 「増える」. The opposite is 「下がる」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. (程度ていどなどが)高たかくなる。盛り上もりあがる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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