verb

climb

KLYM

verb

To move upward, especially using effort — going up a hill, ladder, stairs, or rock face.

"They climbed the steep trail to reach the summit before sunset."

"She climbed the ladder to fix the gutter."

To rise or increase, as a number, price, or position in a ranking.

"The song climbed to number one within a week."

"Prices have been climbing steadily since spring."

noun

An act or instance of climbing; an ascent.

"The climb to the top took nearly four hours."

How to Use Climb

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo go up something, either physically (a mountain, stairs) or figuratively (rising numbers, rankings).

Common pairings

climb a mountain climb the ranks climb steadily a steep climb

Word Forms

climbed past tense, clomb past tense, clumb past tense, climb plural, climbed plural, clomb plural, climbs plural, climbs singular, climb singular, climbed singular, clomb singular, climbest singular, climbedst singular, climbeth singular

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They _____ the steep trail to reach the summit before sunset.

Etymology

From Old English climban, "to climb," related to Old Norse and German words meaning to cling or stick — the same ancient root gave us "clay" and "glue," reflecting the idea of gripping something as you climb.

Rhymes for climb

limb

See all rhymes for climb →