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general::
lift (up)
to move something or someone upwards to a higher position, especially something heavy, either by using your hands or a machine:
• You shouldn’t lift anything heavy if you have a bad back. • She lifted the lid from a huge pot and took a sniff. • They lifted me onto a stretcher and took me to the ambulance. • He lifted the girl up onto his knee. • They used a crane to lift the carriages back onto the rails. • The massive bull lifted him bodily into the air and shook him repeatedly.
raise
to lift something to a higher position for a short time before lowering it again. Raise is more formal than lift:
• The bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass under it. • ‘Cheers, everyone!’ said Larry, raising his glass.
pick up
to lift something up from the ground, from a table etc, especially something small or light:
• She picked up her bag and left the room. • Tom picked the papers up off the floor. • Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call him? • Maurin picked up the gun and put it in his pocket. • The lioness picked her cub up by its neck. • There are papers all over the floor – could you pick them up and put them away? • The little girl’s mother laughed and bent down to pick her up. • The vacuum cleaner won’t pick this stuff up.
scoop up
to lift someone or something quickly from the ground, from a table etc, using your hand or arm:
• She bent down and scooped up the little dog.
hoist
to lift up something which is heavy and difficult to carry:
• Joe picked up the sack and hoisted it onto the truck. • The crowd hoisted him onto their shoulders and carried him triumphantly down the main street.
elevate
technical to lift something to a higher position and keep it there:
• The doctor advised me to rest and elevate my ankle.
put your hand up
to lift your arm into the air, for example because you want to speak in a class or when voting:
• Put your hand up if you know the answer.
Longman-Thesaurus