élever

Senses

1. 1.

   to raise, to lift up

   to move something to a higher position or level

2. 2.

   to raise, to bring up (children)

   to care for and educate a child from infancy to adulthood

3. 3.

   to breed (animals)

   to keep and care for livestock or farm animals

4. 4.

   to elevate, to promote

   to increase in rank, status, or importance

Examples

• "Elle élève la main pour répondre à la question."

  She raises her hand to answer the question.

• "Ils élèvent trois enfants à la campagne."

  They are raising three children in the countryside.

• "Son père élève des chevaux depuis vingt ans."

  His father has been breeding horses for twenty years.

Usage

Élever is a common, everyday verb with multiple overlapping senses. "Élever un enfant" (raise a child) is the most frequent usage. The reflexive form "s'élever" means "to rise" or "to stand up" and often carries figurative meaning (to rise socially, to object). Avoid confusing it with "lever" (to lift), though they are related.