soared

Soared is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb soar. It refers to gaining height or rising rapidly. In a literal sense, to soar means to ascend with little or no wing flapping for birds and aircraft using air currents, such as thermals or ridge lift. In birds like eagles and vultures, soaring is an efficient flight method; in aviation, gliders and some aircraft use soaring techniques to maintain altitude while moving forward.

In figurative or quantitative use, soared describes rapid increases in non-physical measures: prices soared, temperatures soared, attendance soared, or morale could soar. It often conveys sharp, sustained growth or escalation beyond previous levels, sometimes with a sense of surpassing prior records.

Common collocations include "soar to," as in "soar to new heights," and "soar past," as in "sales soared past expectations." The word can carry positive connotations of success or dramatic change, but it can also imply volatility or sudden shifts.

Usage notes indicate soared is typically used when the ascent is notable or abrupt; for slower increases, terms like rise, grow, or climb may be preferred. In journalism and writing, soared is frequently found in economic, weather, or sports contexts to describe rapid movement or achievement.

Examples: "The hawk soared effortlessly on rising air." "Stock prices soared after the quarterly results." "Temperatures soared to record highs." "Fan interest quickly soared, driving the event to sell out."