to lift something or someone to a higher position
The firefighter raised the baby out of the window to safety.
Please raise your hand if you know the answer.
✦ Old French ‘reis’ and Latin ‘rasus’, past participle of ‘radere’ meaning ‘scrape, shave’; later broadened to the idea of lifting something up.
to increase the amount, level, or strength of something
The bank decided to raise interest rates this month.
Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure.
to bring up and care for a child until they are an adult
My grandparents raised me on a small farm.
They want to raise their children in the countryside.
to collect money or resources for a purpose
The concert raised over a million dollars for charity.
We are baking cookies to raise funds for the class trip.
to bring a subject, idea, or question forward for discussion
May I raise a question about the schedule?
He raised the issue during the meeting.
to say good things about someone or something because you think they are good or did well.
The coach praised the team for its hard work after the match.
Reporters praise the film for its stunning visuals.
✦ From Old French ‘preisier’, from Latin ‘pretiare’, meaning ‘to value’.
to show respect and thanks to a god, especially by singing or praying.
Worshippers gathered to praise during the sunrise service.
They sang hymns to praise their deity.
✦ Religious sense developed in Middle English from earlier general sense ‘to commend’.
to collect or gather money for a specific purpose, such as a charity, project, or organization.
The students plan to fundraise for their school trip.
My neighbor fundraises every weekend for cancer research.
✦ Coined in the 1960s by combining 'fund' (a sum of money for a purpose) and 'raise' (to gather or collect).
