soaring

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Rising very quickly and sharply, especially in price, cost or temperature.

   Grammar: Usually goes before a noun: soaring prices.

   Patterns

   • soaring prices
   • soaring demand

   Soaring rents are forcing many families out of the city.

   The soaring heat closed the schools for a day.

   Soaring demand left the store with empty shelves.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounliterary

   Very high, tall or impressive in a way that makes you look up.

   Grammar: Describes structures or heights: a soaring ceiling.

   Patterns

   • a soaring tower

   The cathedral has a soaring roof lined with stained glass.

   Visitors gazed at the soaring cliffs above the river.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nounliterary

   Flying or gliding high in the air without much effort, or lifting the spirits.

   Grammar: Often used about birds or music: a soaring melody.

   Patterns

   • a soaring melody

   We watched a soaring eagle circle above the valley.

   The choir ended with a soaring melody that gave everyone chills.

Common combinations

soaring prices

Soaring prices made groceries hard to afford.

soaring inflation

Soaring inflation worried the central bank.

soaring temperatures

Soaring temperatures kept people indoors.

soaring ambition

Her soaring ambition took her to the top.

Synonyms and how they differ

skyrocketing

Skyrocketing is more informal and dramatic, usually used for numbers.

rocketing

Rocketing stresses sudden speed, whereas soaring can also describe a smooth rise.

towering

Towering describes height of objects only, not rising prices.

surging

Surging suggests a wave-like rush, often of crowds or money.

Opposites

Word family

soar verb

to rise quickly or fly high

soared verb

past tense of soar

soaringly adverb

in a way that rises very high

Commonly confused: soaring or sore? soaring or sorting?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “soaring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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