soar
gb/sˈɔɹ/ us/sˈɔɹ/
B2
English
~ 6000
az egekbe szökik, rohamosan emelkedik, rohamosan nő, szárnyal, siklik, feldobódik, repes a szíve, magasodik, az égbe nyúlik, tornyosul, szárnyalás, siklás
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] soars / [something] soars to [a level]
Housing prices have soared in the last few years.
A lakásárak az elmúlt néhány évben az egekbe szöktek.
Demand for electric cars is soaring across the country.
Országszerte rohamosan nő az elektromos autók iránti kereslet.
Energy bills are expected to soar again this winter.
Her popularity soared after the release of the new album.
Online sales have soared to record levels this quarter.
Learner examples
Food prices are soaring this year.
Idén az élelmiszerárak az egekbe szöknek.
The number of visitors to the city has soared.
A városba látogatók száma az egekbe szökött.
Our costs soared after the new law.
Company profits soared to ten million dollars.
In summer, the temperature can soar to 40 degrees.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "soar" as a transitive verb and say *"The government soared the prices"*. This is incorrect. "Soar" is intransitive: you should say "Prices soared" or "Prices were raised." Learners also sometimes use it for small or slow increases, but it usually suggests a large and fast rise.
Meaning
Increase quickly to a high level
Collocations
prices soar
|costs soar
|inflation soars
|profits soar
|unemployment soars
Synonyms
skyrocket (Stronger and more informal; often used for dramatic or surprising increases.)
|
surge (Emphasizes a sudden strong increase, not always to an extremely high level.)
Antonyms
plummet (Describes falling very quickly and by a large amount, often after being high.)
|
drop (More general and less dramatic; any movement downward in amount or level.)
Themes
business
|economy
|numbers
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go up very fast to a very high number, level, or rate.
To rise or increase very quickly to a much higher level, amount, or rate.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[bird/aircraft] soars (through/over [a place])
An eagle soared high above the valley, searching for prey.
Egy sas magasan szárnyalt a völgy fölött, zsákmány után kutatva.
Paragliders were soaring over the beach in the afternoon sun.
A délutáni napsütésben siklóernyősök siklottak a strand fölött.
The plane soared into the clear blue sky.
Kites soared above the park as the wind picked up.
We watched hawks soar effortlessly on the warm air currents.
Learner examples
The bird opened its wings and soared.
A madár kitárta a szárnyait, és szárnyalni kezdett.
Planes soared over the city at night.
Éjszaka repülők szárnyaltak a város fölött.
We saw a kite soaring in the strong wind.
An eagle soared above the mountains.
Hot-air balloons were soaring in the morning sky.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"soar down"* to mean "fly down," but "soar" almost always suggests moving or staying high, not going downward. They may also overuse it for any kind of flying; in everyday speech, it is usually used when the height or freedom of the flight feels impressive or beautiful.
Meaning
Fly or glide high in the air
Collocations
birds soar
|eagles soar
|soar above the clouds
|soar through the sky
|soar on the wind
Synonyms
glide (Stresses smooth, easy movement; not always high in the air, and can be on water or ice.)
|
hover (Means staying in one place in the air rather than moving forward at a height.)
Antonyms
plunge (Focuses on a sudden fast movement downward, often from a height.)
|
descend (A neutral, controlled movement downward, the opposite direction of soaring upward.)
Themes
nature
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To move high in the sky, like a bird or plane, usually smoothly and easily.
To fly, glide, or move high in the air, often with little visible effort.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone’s] spirits/heart/confidence soars
Her spirits soared when she heard she had passed the exam.
Szárnyalt a lelke, amikor meghallotta, hogy átment a vizsgán.
His heart soared as he watched his child take their first steps.
Örömtől repesett a szíve, amikor látta, hogy a gyermeke megteszi az első lépéseit.
The team’s confidence soared after their surprise victory.
My hopes soared when I finally got a call from the company.
Crowd morale soared once the band came back on stage.
Learner examples
Her spirits soared when she got the job.
Teljesen feldobódott, amikor megkapta az állást.
My heart soared when I saw my family at the airport.
Örömtől repesett a szívem, amikor megláttam a családomat a repülőtéren.
His confidence soared after the good results.
Our hopes soared when the doctor smiled.
The children’s excitement soared as the show began.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "soar" directly with a person, for example *"She soared"* when they mean her mood improved. It is clearer to say "Her spirits soared" or "Her confidence soared" to show that it is her feelings that changed.
Meaning
Feel suddenly very happy or excited
Collocations
spirits soar
|heart soars
|confidence soars
|hopes soar
|morale soars
Synonyms
lift (As in "spirits lift"; suggests a positive change in mood but not always as strong as "soar.")
|
skyrocket (Can be used for emotions, but often sounds more informal or exaggerated than "soar.")
Antonyms
sink (As in "spirits sink"; describes a sudden drop to a sad or negative mood.)
|
plummet (Stronger than "sink," showing a very sharp fall in mood or confidence.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To feel suddenly very happy, hopeful, or confident.
Of a person’s feelings, mood, or confidence: to rise suddenly to a very high and positive level.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
4
Usage pattern:
[something] soars above/over [a place]
Glass towers soar above the old stone houses in the city center.
A városközpontban üvegtornyok magasodnak a régi kőházak fölé.
The cathedral’s spires soar into the gray sky.
A katedrális csúcsos tornyai a szürke égbe nyúlnak.
Steep cliffs soar over the narrow beach.
Her voice soars on the final chorus, filling the concert hall.
Inside, the lobby opens into a space with soaring ceilings and tall windows.
Learner examples
Tall buildings soar above the river.
Magas épületek magasodnak a folyó fölé.
The mountain peaks soar over the village.
A hegycsúcsok tornyosulnak a falu fölé.
The church towers soar into the sky.
Her voice soars at the end of the song.
High trees soar above the small houses.
Common mistake:
Learners may use this sense in very ordinary situations, where simpler verbs like "stand" or "are tall" are more natural. "Soar" here usually adds a sense of drama, beauty, or impressiveness.
Meaning
Rise or tower to great height
Collocations
skyscrapers soar above
|towers soar over the city
|soaring ceilings
|soaring cliffs
|a voice that soars
Synonyms
tower (More common for tall buildings or objects; does not naturally apply to music or voices.)
|
rise (More general; does not emphasize the impressive or dramatic height as strongly as "soar.")
Antonyms
sprawl (Describes something spreading out low and wide, rather than rising upward.)
|
lie low (Shows being close to the ground or not rising much in height.)
Themes
architecture
|art
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be very tall or high, so that it seems to go up into the sky, or to rise to very high notes or levels.
To rise or extend to a great height, especially in an impressive or striking way, as with buildings, mountains, or sounds.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
5
szárnyalás
B2
siklás
B2
Usage pattern:
a soar into/over [a place]
With a powerful beat of its wings, the eagle began its silent soar across the valley.
Egy erőteljes szárnycsapással a sas megkezdte csendes szárnyalását a völgy fölött.
The glider’s final soar over the lake was a perfect end to the day.
A vitorlázógép utolsó siklása a tó fölött tökéletes lezárása volt a napnak.
In a single graceful soar, the bird vanished into the clouds.
Learner examples
The bird ended its soar and came back to the tree.
A madár befejezte szárnyalását, és visszatért a fára.
We watched the plane’s last gentle soar above the field.
Figyeltük a repülő utolsó, könnyed szárnyalását a mező fölött.
The story describes the hawk’s long soar over the mountains.
Common mistake:
This noun use is rare in modern everyday English. Learners sometimes try to use it where "flight" or "ascent" would be more natural. In most contexts, use the verb "soar" instead of the noun.
Meaning
Act of flying high in the air
Collocations
a long soaring flight
|in one great soar
|take a soar
Synonyms
ascent (General word for going upward; not limited to flying and is more formal or technical.)
Antonyms
descent (The movement downward after a period of rising or flying high.)
Themes
nature
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A time when something flies or goes high in the sky.
An act or period of flying, gliding, or rising high in the air.
Grammar
Dictionary form
soar
IPA
GB/sˈɔɹ/
US/sˈɔɹ/
Syllables & stress
soar (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (soar)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: soar
- 3rd Person Singular: soars
- Present Participle: soaring
- Past: soared
Word family
Forms
soars
verb
soaring
verb
soared
verb
Expressions
let your imagination soar
1/lˈɛt jˈʊɹ ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən sˈɔɹ/
idiom
Allow your imagination to be free
To think freely and creatively without limits.
Examples
- In this writing class, you can let your imagination soar.
- The film invites viewers to let their imaginations soar beyond everyday life.
- Children should be able to let their imaginations soar when they play.
prices are soaring
1/pɹˈaɪsɪz ˈɑɹ sˈɔɹɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Prices increasing very quickly
Used to say that things are becoming much more expensive very fast.
Examples
- Rents are high and prices are soaring across the city.
- In many countries, food prices are soaring this year.
- With fuel costs soaring, many families are struggling.
profits are soaring
1/pɹˈɑfɪts ˈɑɹ sˈɔɹɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Profits increasing very quickly
Used to say that a company is making much more money than before, very quickly.
Examples
- The company’s profits are soaring thanks to strong online sales.
- While costs are rising, their profits are soaring even faster.
- Investors are happy because profits are soaring this quarter.
soar above the competition
1/sˈɔɹ əbˈʌv ðə kˌɑmpətˈɪʃən/
idiom
Be far better than competitors
To do much better than other people or businesses you are competing with.
Examples
- Their customer service helps them soar above the competition.
- The new design allowed the startup to soar above the competition in just one year.
- If we focus on quality, we can soar above the competition in this market.
soar like an eagle
1/sˈɔɹ lˈaɪk ən ˈiɡəl/
idiom
literary
Rise or succeed freely and strongly
To reach a high level of success or freedom, compared to an eagle flying high in the sky.
Examples
- He told the students to spread their wings and soar like eagles.
- With the right support, her career could soar like an eagle.
- The song’s chorus makes you feel ready to soar like an eagle.
soar to new heights
1/sˈɔɹ tə njˈu hˈaɪts/
idiom
Reach a much higher level
To become better, more successful, or more impressive than ever before.
Examples
- With their latest product, the company has soared to new heights of innovation.
- Her second novel soars to new heights, both in style and in emotional depth.
- After months of training, his performance soared to new heights in the final race.
spirits soar
1/spˈɪɹɪts sˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
Mood becomes suddenly very happy
To feel suddenly much happier or more hopeful.
Examples
- Their spirits soared when they heard the good news.
- The crowd’s spirits soared as the home team scored again.
- My spirits always soar when I visit this place.