Cool MateRaise vs Take it up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Raise
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Take it up
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Raise
| Raise | Take it up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/reɪz/","/ˈreɪzɪz/","/reɪzd/","/ˈreɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪz/","/ˈreɪzɪz/","/reɪzd/","/ˈreɪzɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //teɪk ɪt ʌp//🇺🇸 //teɪk ɪt ʌp// |
| Meaning | To lift something up or to increase something. | To raise or increase something, often in intensity or level. |
| Example | I want to raise my hand to ask a question. | I think we should take it up with the management during our meeting. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | raise funds, raise awareness, raise a question, raise the stakes, raise your hand | take it up a notch, take it up with someone, take it up in conversation |
| Antonyms | lower, decrease | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Raise' confused with 'rise' (e.g., 'I rise my hand'), Using 'raise' without an object (e.g., 'raise' without specifying what is raised), Confusing past tense ('raised') with present tense ('raise') | Confused with 'take up' meaning to begin a hobby or interest., Using 'take it up' in contexts where 'bring it up' is more appropriate., Incorrectly separating the phrasal verb, saying 'take it up' instead of 'take up'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'raise' when talking about increasing amounts, such as money or levels. It is not used for people standing up (use 'rise' instead). Suitable for both spoken and written contexts. | Use this phrase when discussing raising an issue, topic, or skill. It's appropriate in both casual and professional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Raise vs Take it up
What's the difference between Raise and Take it up?
Raise: To lift something up or to increase something. Take it up: To raise or increase something, often in intensity or level.
Which is more common: Raise and Take it up?
Raise is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Raise: I want to raise my hand to ask a question. Take it up: I think we should take it up with the management during our meeting.
Can I use Raise and Take it up interchangeably?
Not always. Raise and Take it up are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.