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Definition of raise verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    raise

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//reɪz//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they raise
     
    he / she / it raises
     
    past simple raised
     
    -ing form raising
     
     
    jump to other results
    move upward
  1. 1raise something to lift or move something to a higher level She raised the gun and fired. He raised a hand in greeting. She raised her eyes from her work. opposite lower1 Which Word?rise / raiseverbs
    • Raise is a verb that must have an object and rise is used without an object. When you raise something, you lift it to a higher position or increase it:He raised his head from the pillow. We were forced to raise the price.When people or things rise, they move from a lower to a higher position:She rose from the chair. The helicopter rose into the air.Rise can also mean “to increase in number or quantity”:Costs are always rising.
    nouns
    • The noun rise means a movement upward or an increase in an amount or quantity:a rise in interest rates.Rise can also mean the process of becoming more powerful or important:her dramatic rise to power.The noun raise is often used to mean an increase in pay:a three percent pay raise.
  2. 2raise something/somebody/yourself (+ adv./prep.) to move something/someone/yourself to a vertical position Somehow we managed to raise her to her feet. He raised himself up on one elbow. opposite lower1
    3. increase
  3. 3raise something (to something) to increase the amount or level of something to raise salaries/prices/taxes They raised their offer to $500. We need to raise public awareness of the issue. How can we raise standards in schools? Don't tell her about the job until you know for sure—we don't want to raise her hopes (= make her hope too much). I've never heard him even raise his voice (= speak louder because he was angry). Thesaurusshout
    • yell
    • cry
    • scream
    • cheer
    • bellow
    • raise your voice
    These words all mean to say something in a very loud voice.
    • shout to say something in a loud voice; to speak loudly and often angrily to someone:Stop shouting and listen! “Run!” he shouted.
    • yell to shout loudly, for example because you are angry, excited, afraid, or in pain:She yelled at the boy to get down from the wall.
    • cry (somewhat formal or literary) to shout loudly, especially because you are upset, afraid, excited, or very happy:She ran over to the window and cried for help.
    • scream to shout something in a loud high voice because you are afraid, angry, or excited:He screamed at me to stop.
    • cheer (especially of a crowd of people) to shout loudly to show support or praise for someone, or to give them encouragement:We all cheered as the team came onto the field.
    • bellow to shout in a loud deep voice, especially because you are angry:My father bellowed at me from across the room.
    • raise your voice to speak loudly to someone, especially because you are angry:She never once raised her voice to us.
    Patterns
    • to shout/yell/cry/raise your voice to somebody
    • to shout/yell/scream/bellow at somebody
    • to shout/yell/cry out/scream/bellow in pain/anguish/rage, etc.
    • to shout/cry out/scream for joy/excitement/delight, etc.
    • to shout/yell/cry out/scream with excitement/triumph, etc.
    • to shout/yell/scream/bellow at somebody to do something
    • to shout/yell/scream insults
    • to shout/yell/cry/scream for help
    4. child/animal
  4. 4to care for a child or young animal until it is able to take care of itself raise somebody/something They were both raised in the South. kids raised on a diet of junk food raise somebody/something as something raise somebody/something + noun They raised her (as) a Catholic. I was born and raised a city boy. compare bring somebodyup
    5. collect money/people
  5. 5raise something to bring or collect money or people together; to manage to get or form something to raise a loan We are raising money for charity. He began raising an army. see fund-raiser
    6. mention subject
  6. 6raise something to mention something for people to discuss or someone to deal with synonym broach The book raises many important questions. I'm glad you raised the subject of money.
    7. cause
  7. 7raise something to cause or produce something; to make something appear to raise doubts in people's minds The plans for the new development have raised angry protests from local residents. It wasn't an easy audience, but he raised a laugh with his joke. It had been a difficult day but she managed to raise a smile. The horses' hooves raised a cloud of dust. see curtain raiser
    8. farm animals/crops
  8. 8raise something to breed particular farm animals; to grow particular crops to raise cattle/corn
    9. end something
  9. 9raise something to end a restriction on someone or something to raise a blockade/a ban/an embargo/a siege
    10. in card games
  10. 10raise somebody something to make a higher bet than another player in a card game I'll raise you another hundred dollars.
    11. dead person
  11. 11raise somebody (from something) to make someone who has died come to life again synonym resurrect Christians believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.
    12. on radio/phone
  12. 12raise somebody to contact someone and speak to them by radio or telephone We managed to raise him on his cell phone.
    13. mathematics
  13. 13raise something to the power of something to multiply an amount by itself a particular number of times 3 raised to the power of 3 is 27 (= 3 × 3 × 3).
    14. Idioms
    raise/up the ante
     
    jump to other results
    to increase the level of something, especially demands or sums of money His ex-wife has upped the ante in her alimony suit against him.
    raise the bar
     
    jump to other results
    to set a new, higher standard of quality or performance The factory has raised the bar on productivity, food safety, and quality. This latest computer game raises the bar for interface design. The awards go to people who have truly raised the bar. Perhaps the new admission requirements raised the bar too high.
    raise your eyebrows (at something) [often passive]
     
    jump to other results
    to show that you disapprove of or are surprised by something Eyebrows were raised when he arrived without his wife.
    raise your glass (to somebody)
     
    jump to other results
    to hold up your glass and wish someone happiness, good luck, etc. before you drink
    raise somebody's hackles
     
    jump to other results
    to make someone angry Her controversial article is bound to raise hackles.
    raise a/your hand against/to somebody
     
    jump to other results
    to hit, or threaten to hit, someone
    raise hell (informal)
     
    jump to other results
    to protest angrily, especially in a way that causes trouble for someone
    raise the roof
     
    jump to other results
    to produce or make someone produce a lot of noise in a building, for example by shouting or cheering Their cheers raised the roof.
    raise/lower your sights
     
    jump to other results
    to expect more/less from a situation If they can't afford such a big house, they'll just have to lower their sights a little.
    raise somebody's spirits
     
    jump to other results
    to make someone feel more cheerful or brave synonym cheer somebodyon The sunny weather raised my spirits a little.
    raise/lower the temperature
     
    jump to other results
    to increase/decrease the amount of excitement, emotion, etc. in a situation His angry refusal to agree raised the temperature of the meeting. The government tried to lower the political temperature by agreeing to some of the demands.     Phrasal Verbsraise to
See raise in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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