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raise up

B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To pick something or someone up, or to help someone get to a better or higher position in life.

Literal meaning: To raise (lift) something upward — physically moving it to a higher position.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To physically lift something or someone to a higher position.

"She raised up the child so he could see the parade over the crowd."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To improve someone's social, economic, or spiritual position; to empower or inspire someone.

"The programme was designed to raise up communities that had been left behind by economic development."

"We need to raise up a new generation of leaders."

— Barack Obama, campaign speech, 2007
Grammar: separable
3 C1 idiomatic formal

(Archaic/religious) To resurrect or cause someone to rise from the dead.

"The text describes the prophet raising up the dead man by prayer."

"And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth... and the child sneezed seven times, and the child raised up his eyes."

— 2 Kings 4:34–35, Bible (ESV)
Grammar: separable
Usage notes

In everyday speech, 'raise up' often sounds slightly more emphatic or dramatic than simply 'raise.' The figurative sense (elevating status or spirit) is common in religious and motivational contexts. The physical sense is sometimes considered redundant ('raise' alone is sufficient), but 'raise up' adds emphasis.

Commonly used with

children voice hand community people spirits

Forms

Base
raise up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
raises up
he/she/it
Past simple
raised up
yesterday
Past participle
raised up
have + pp
-ing form
raising up
continuous

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