Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense climbs, present participle climbing, past tense, past participle climbed
1. verb
If you climb something such as a tree, mountain, or ladder, or climbup it, you move towards the top of it. If you climbdown it, you move towards the bottom of it.
Climbing the first hill took half an hour. [VERB noun]
He picked up his suitcase and climbed the stairs. [VERB noun]
I told her about him climbing up the drainpipe. [V + up]
Kelly climbed down the ladder into the water. [V + down]
Children love to climb. [VERB]
Synonyms: ascend, scale, mount, go up More Synonyms of climb
Climb is also a noun.
...an hour's leisurely climb through olive groves and vineyards.
2. verb
If you climb somewhere, you move there carefully, for example because you are moving into a small space or trying to avoid falling.
The girls hurried outside, climbed into the car, and drove off. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He must have climbed out of his cot. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He climbed down from the cab. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: clamber, descend, scramble, dismount More Synonyms of climb
3. verb
When something such as an aeroplane climbs, it moves upwards to a higher position. When the sun climbs, it moves higher in the sky.
The plane continued to climb until it reached its cruising altitude. [VERB]
[Also VERB preposition]
4. verb
When something climbs, it increases in value or amount.
The nation's unemployment rate has been climbing steadily since last June. [VERB]
Prices have climbed by 21% since the beginning of the year. [VERB + by]
The FA Cup Final's audience climbed to 12.3 million. [V + to/from]
Jaguar shares climbed 43 pence to 510 pence. [VERB amount]
Synonyms: increase, rise, mount, go up More Synonyms of climb
5. See also climbing
6. a mountain to climb
Phrasal verbs:
See climb down
More Synonyms of climb
climb in British English
(klaɪm)
verb(mainly intr)
1. (also tr; often foll byup)
to go up or ascend (stairs, a mountain, etc)
2. (often foll by along)
to progress with difficulty
to climb along a ledge
3.
to rise to a higher point or intensity
the temperature climbed
4.
to incline or slope upwards
the road began to climb
5.
to ascend in social position
6.
(of plants) to grow upwards by twining, using tendrils or suckers, etc
7. informal(foll by into)
to put (on) or get (into)
he climbed into his pyjamas
8.
to be a climber or mountaineer
noun
9.
the act or an instance of climbing
10.
a place or thing to be climbed, esp a route in mountaineering
▶ Related adjective: scansorial
Derived forms
climbable (ˈclimbable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English climban; related to Old Norse klembra to squeeze, Old High German climban to clamber
climb in American English
(klaɪm)
verb intransitive, verb transitiveWord forms: climbed or ˈclimbing
1.
to go up by using the feet and, often, the hands
2.
to rise or ascend gradually to a higher point; mount
3.
to move (down, over, along, etc.), using the hands and feet
4. US
to get (into or out of clothes or a piece of clothing) hastily, perfunctorily, etc.
5. Botany
to grow upward on (a wall, trellis, etc.) by winding around or adhering with tendrils
noun
6.
an act or instance of climbing; rise; ascent
7.
a thing or place to be climbed
Derived forms
climbable (ˈclimbable)
adjective
Word origin
ME climben < OE climban < IE *glembh- (> clamber, clump) < base *gel-, to make round, clench, as the fist: basic sense, “to cling to, grip”
More idioms containing
climb
climb the walls
a mountain to climb
Examples of 'climb' in a sentence
climb
They have already climbed the ladder once and want to get back on it.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
So they had to get a ladder and climb in a window.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She especially wants to give more people from humble backgrounds a chance of climbing the social ladder.
The Sun (2016)
This is a new climbing frame!
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When we get out there is still 600m to climb.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It took about half an hour of careful climbing, but soon we were within just a few metres of the summit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Official figures this week are set to show that inflation climbed above 1 % last month for the first time in two years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The revival rocket is still climbing and Wasps have now won their first four games for the first time in over a decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I'd do it the next time he went off to climb a mountain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
England now have a mountain to climb in Mumbai and Madras.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When had we last climbed a mountain together?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Some of the climbs take an hour to get to the top.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Park rangers were dispatched and began climbing the route.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Sales have been climbing steadily since then.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Prices already climb sky high in the summer holiday as demand massively outstrips supply.
The Sun (2014)
It is an odd place to climb.
The Sun (2015)
Departing aircraft will climb higher much more quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We are miles from anywhere and the road still climbs away.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
My contemporaries were climbing the job ladder and buying houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There appeared to be a success curve that was climbing gradually upwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We gave ourselves a mountain to climb.
The Sun (2008)
Photography festivals have spread across the world and prices have climbed into the stratosphere.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And that becomes a problem as we climb higher.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Having used the tripod as a climbing frame the inquisitive animals soon discovered how to fire the shutter.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The uphill trek out was tough and after an arduous six hours the final climb was in sight.
The Sun (2016)
Hanging from a climbing frame or branch and bringing the knees up the chest is also good for core strengthening.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In the past year the stock has climbed 116%.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
There are an amazing 1,400 cliff face routes to climb on the coastline.
The Sun (2013)
The harp seal population has since climbed back to 9m.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The company climbs nine places in our list this year to 15th.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Their Hurricanes were still climbing when they saw the formation.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
The All-Share climbed by 24% over the same period.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
climb
British English: climb /klaɪm/ VERB
If you climb something such as a tree, mountain, or ladder, or climb up it, you move towards the top of it. If you climbdown it, you move towards the bottom of it.
Climbing the first hill took half an hour.
American English: climb
Arabic: يَتَسَلَّقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: escalar
Chinese: 攀登
Croatian: penjati se
Czech: šplhat
Danish: klatre op ad
Dutch: klimmen
European Spanish: escalar
Finnish: kiivetä
French: grimper
German: klettern
Greek: σκαρφαλώνω
Italian: scalare
Japanese: 登る
Korean: 기어오르다
Norwegian: klatre
Polish: wspiąć się
European Portuguese: escalar
Romanian: a se cățăra
Russian: взбираться
Latin American Spanish: escalar
Swedish: klättra
Thai: ปีน
Turkish: tırmanmak
Ukrainian: вилізати
Vietnamese: leo
All related terms of 'climb'
climb down
If you climb down in an argument or dispute , you admit that you are wrong , or change your intentions or demands .
hill climb
a competition in which motor vehicles attempt singly to ascend a steep slope as fast as possible
rock climb
an instance of rock climbing or the route followed
monkey climb
a wrestling throw in which a contestant seizes his or her opponent's arms or neck , places his feet on the opponent's stomach , and falls backwards , straightening the legs and throwing the opponent over his or her head
climb the wall
If you say that you are climbing the walls , you are emphasizing that you feel very frustrated , nervous , or anxious .
climb the walls
to feel very frustrated , nervous , or anxious
a mountain to climb
If you say that someone has a mountain to climb , you mean that it will be difficult for them to achieve what they want to achieve.
jump on the bandwagon
to get involved in an activity or idea because it is likely to succeed or it is fashionable at the time
Chinese translation of 'climb'
climb
(klaɪm)
vt
[tree] (also climb up) 爬 (pá)
[mountain, hill]攀登 (pāndēng)
[ladder]登 (dēng)
[stairs, steps]上 (shàng)
vi
[sun]徐徐上升 (xúxú shàngshēng)
[plane]爬升 (páshēng)
[prices, shares]上涨(漲) (shàngzhǎng)
[person] (on frame, up mountain etc) 攀爬 (pānpá)
(= move with effort)
to climb into/onto/over sth爬入/上/过(過)某物 (párù/shàng/guò mǒuwù)
n(c)
[of mountain, hill]攀登 (pāndēng) (次, cì)
to go climbing去爬山 (qù páshān)
1 (verb)
Definition
to go up or ascend (stairs, a mountain, etc.)
Climbing the first hill took half an hour.
Synonyms
ascend
I held her hand as we ascended the steps.
scale
The men scaled a wall and climbed down scaffolding on the other side.
mount
She was mounting the stairs to the tower.
go up
clamber
shin up
Nancy shinned up the tree.
2 (verb)
Definition
to move or go with difficulty
He climbed down from the cab.
Synonyms
clamber
They clambered up the steep hill.
descend
Disaster struck as the plane descended through the mist.
scramble
He scrambled up a steep bank.
dismount
She dismounted and began to lead her horse.
3 (verb)
Definition
to rise to a higher point or intensity
My Tokyo-bound plane climbed above the city.
Synonyms
rise
The sun had risen high in the sky.
go up
Interest rates have gone up again.
soar
Buzzards soar overhead at a great height.
ascend
They ascended 55,900 feet in their balloon.
fly up
4 (verb)
Definition
to increase in value or amount
Prices have climbed by 21% since the beginning of the year.
Synonyms
increase
The population continues to increase.
rise
We need to increase our charges in order to meet rising costs.
mount
For several hours, tension mounted.
go up
rocket
Fresh food is so scarce that prices have rocketed sharply.
soar
soaring unemployment
escalate
Unions and management fear the dispute could escalate.
inflate
Promotion can inflate a film's final cost.
shoot up
Sales shot up by 9% last month.
snowball
5 (verb)
Definition
to incline or slope upwards
The road climbs steeply.
Synonyms
slope
The street must have been on a slope.
rise
His voice rose almost to a scream.
go up
incline
phrasal verb
See climb down
related words
related adjectivescansorial
Additional synonyms
in the sense of descend
Definition
to move or fall to a lower level, pitch, etc.
Disaster struck as the plane descended through the mist.
Synonyms
fall,
drop,
sink,
go down,
plunge,
dive,
tumble,
plummet,
subside,
move down
in the sense of dismount
Definition
to get off a horse or bicycle
She dismounted and began to lead her horse.
Synonyms
get off,
descend,
get down,
alight,
light
in the sense of escalate
Definition
to increase or be increased in size, seriousness, or intensity
Unions and management fear the dispute could escalate.