Rise changes both comfort and proportion. A high rise covers the stomach, stays put when you sit, and visually lengthens the legs — which is why it pairs so well with tucked-in or cropped tops. A low rise sits on the hips for a longer torso line, while mid rise is the versatile middle.
Two jeans with the same waist size can feel completely different if their rises differ, because the waistband sits at a different point on your body. When a pair feels like it's "gaping" or "digging in," the rise is often the culprit rather than the waist measurement.
