climb

/klaɪm/ (bre, ipa) · [klˈaɪm] /klaɪm/ (ame, ipa) · [klˈaɪm] /ˈklīm/ (ame, mw)

climb — 動詞

  • climbpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • climbshe / she / it
  • climbedpast simple
  • climbing-ing form

1. to move towards a higher position, such as the top of a hill, stairs, or a mount

1.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

爬升；攀登

往高處移動

to move towards a higher position, such as the top of a hill, stairs, or a mountain

例句

The children climbed the steep hill behind their house every weekend.

孩子們每個週末都會爬上自家後面的陡峭山丘。

transitive: climb + steep hill

Nora climbed up the stairs to the second floor, carrying her school bag.

Nora 背著書包爬樓梯上二樓。

同義詞
  • ascend

    more formal; used for aircraft, elevators, or abstract rises

  • rise

    suggests continuous upward motion without implied effort

反義詞
  • descend

    to go down

  • drop

    used for prices or amounts going down

文法句型

climb + noun phrase (stairs/hill)

climb + up/down/towards + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently paired with a destination noun ('climb the stairs', 'climb a mountain'). Can be used intransitively when the direction is specified by an adverb or prepositional phrase.

常見錯誤

❌I climbed to the top of the mountain yesterday.' (correct but ambiguous about means).
✅I climbed the mountain yesterday.
💡when referring to going up a mountain as a goal, the transitive form is more natural.

2. to move up, over, or onto something by using your hands and feet together, espec

2.動詞及物 / 不及物A2
釋義

攀爬

用手腳攀上某物

to move up, over, or onto something by using your hands and feet together, especially on a steep or vertical surface

例句

Quan climbed the old oak tree to rescue the kitten stuck on a high branch.

Quan 爬上那棵老橡樹，去救困在高處樹枝上的小貓。

transitive: climb + tree

The firefighters climbed onto the roof using a long metal ladder.

消防隊員用長金屬梯子爬上了屋頂。

同義詞
  • scramble

    suggests quick, clumsy movement over rough ground

  • clamber

    emphasises awkward or difficult effort using both hands and feet

文法句型

climb + object (tree/wall/rope)

climb + up/over/onto + noun phrase

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (GO UP): this sense emphasises the physical effort of using both hands and feet. The object is typically something you grip or pull yourself onto, such as a tree, wall, or rope.

常見錯誤

❌She climbed the stairs by pulling herself up on the railing.
✅She climbed the stairs.
💡climbing stairs usually means walking up them step by step, not using hands. For hands-and-feet motion, use sense 2 with objects like 'tree' or 'wall'.

3. when a cost, figure, reading, or quantity becomes larger bit by bit as time pass

3.動詞不及物B1
釋義

上漲；攀升

價格或數值逐漸上升

when a cost, figure, reading, or quantity becomes larger bit by bit as time passes

例句

The price of petrol has climbed by fifteen percent since the beginning of the year.

汽油價格自年初以來已上漲了百分之十五。

pattern: price + climb + by + percentage

Temperatures in the city climbed to thirty-eight degrees during the summer heatwave.

夏季熱浪期間，城市氣溫攀升到了三十八度。

同義詞
  • rise

    more general; can be sudden or gradual

  • increase

    more formal; used in reports and statistics

  • go up

    more informal and everyday

反義詞

文法句型

price/number/amount + climb + (by + amount) + (to + level)

用法筆記

Subject is always a numerical or measurable quantity (price, rate, temperature, level). Not used for one-off jumps — use 'jump' or 'shoot up' for sudden increases. Unlike 'rise', 'climb' suggests a gradual but steady upward movement.

常見錯誤

❌The price of bread climbed suddenly after the storm.
✅The price of bread shot up suddenly after the storm.
💡'climb' suggests a gradual increase, not a sudden jump.

4. to reach a more important rank in a community or company, frequently by working

4.動詞不及物B2
釋義

攀升

在社會或職位向上爬

to reach a more important rank in a community or company, frequently by working hard or using personal connections

例句

Shirin climbed from a junior assistant to a department manager in just five years.

Shirin 在短短五年內從初級助理攀升到部門經理的職位。

pattern: climb + from [lower] + to [higher] + position

In a novel, a poor man climbs into high society by marrying a rich heiress.

小說中，一個貧窮的年輕人靠著與富家女結婚，攀入上流社會。

同義詞
  • advance

    more neutral; focuses on progress rather than social movement

  • rise through the ranks

    specifically about career progression from a low starting point

反義詞

文法句型

climb + (up + to/towards) + position/rank

用法筆記

Often carries a slightly negative tone, suggesting ambition at the expense of others or using unfair methods. The fixed phrase 'climb the corporate ladder' is neutral and very common in workplace contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He climbed his position very quickly.
✅He climbed up to a senior position very quickly.
💡'climb' in this sense is intransitive; you climb 'to' or 'up to' a position, not directly 'climb a position'.

5. to enter or leave a tight space with effort, often using your whole body in a cl

5.動詞不及物B1
釋義

爬進；爬出

費力進出狹小空間

to enter or leave a tight space with effort, often using your whole body in a clumsy way

例句

The driver climbed out of the tiny car after parking in the tight space.

司機在狹窄的停車位停好車後，從小小的車子裡爬了出來。

pattern: climb + out of [small space]

Meera climbed into the back of the van through the narrow side door.

Meera 從狹窄的側門爬進廂型車後座。

同義詞
  • crawl

    suggests moving on hands and knees through a tight space

  • squeeze

    suggests pressing the body through a space that is barely large enough

文法句型

climb + in/out/into/through + noun phrase

用法筆記

The key difference from sense 1 is that the movement is NOT upward — this sense is about getting into, out of, or through a confined space. Common with vehicles (car, van, boat) and small openings (window, hole).

常見錯誤

❌I climbed the back seat of the taxi.
✅I climbed into the back seat of the taxi.
💡you climb 'into' a vehicle, not 'climb' it directly.

6. if a plant climbs, it grows upwards, often by wrapping itself around or attachin

6.動詞不及物B1
釋義

攀緣生長

植物沿表面向上生長

if a plant climbs, it grows upwards, often by wrapping itself around or attaching itself to a surface or support

例句

Pink roses climbed slowly up the white wall of the old cottage over several years.

粉紅色的玫瑰多年來慢慢攀上了老舊小屋的白色牆壁。

pattern: plant + climb + up + surface

Ivy has climbed across the entire front of the building since nobody trimmed it.

因為沒人修剪，常春藤已經爬滿了整棟建築物的正面。

同義詞
  • twine

    more specific; describes wrapping around a support

  • trail

    suggests growing loosely along the ground or over a surface

文法句型

plant + climb + (up/over/along) + noun phrase

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively for climbing plants (ivy, roses, wisteria, vines, clematis). The direction is usually upward ('climb up'), but can also describe spreading across a surface ('climb across', 'climb over').

常見錯誤

❌The tree climbed to twenty metres.
✅The tree grew to twenty metres.
💡'climb' is only used for plants that attach to and grow along a surface (vines, ivy, climbing roses), not for free-standing trees.

7. to move across, down, or along a difficult surface using your hands and feet, es

7.動詞不及物B1
釋義

艱難移動

手腳並用沿難行表面移動

to move across, down, or along a difficult surface using your hands and feet, especially when the movement is slow or tiring

例句

The hikers climbed down the slippery rocks to reach the river below.

健行者沿著濕滑的岩石爬下去，抵達下方的河流。

pattern: climb + down + [difficult surface]

Walid climbed across the narrow ledge above the canyon, holding tight to the wall.

Walid 抓緊岩壁，沿著峽谷上方狹窄的岩架爬過去。

同義詞
  • scramble

    quicker and less controlled than climb, often over loose ground

  • clamber

    awkward, effortful movement using both hands and feet

文法句型

climb + down/across/along + noun phrase

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (general upward movement), this sense can involve any direction — down, across, or along. The emphasis is on physical difficulty and careful hand-and-foot placement. Common in hiking, rescue, and adventure contexts.

常見錯誤

❌We climbed down the stairs.
✅We walked down the stairs.
💡use 'climb down' only when the surface is steep, rough, or requires using your hands, not for normal stairs.

climb — 名詞