Using the Spanish Verb Levantar

Usually meaning to raise or to lift, the common Spanish verb levantar can also be used for other meanings that at first may not seem related. Levantar is conjugated regularly. Using Levantar for Raising or Lifting Here are some examples of levantar with its usual meaning: Courtney levantà ³ la mano porque querà ­a hacer una pregunta. (Courtney raised her hand because she wanted to ask a question.)Levantaron el coche en el elevador. (They raised up the car on the hoist.)Levantà ³ la taza con su mano dà ©bil. (He raised the cup with his weak hand.)Observa como la temperatura se levanta. (See how the temperature is rising.)Inhalar y levantar los brazos. (Inhale and lift up your arms.) Levantar is often used figuratively: Levanto la voz por mis derechos. (Im raising my voice for my rights.)Levantaban la mirada para ver a los extraà ±os que llegaban. (They looked up to see the strangers who were arriving.) Other Meanings of Levantar In context, levantar can be used to refer to the creating or intensifying of an emotional reaction: Era un hà ©roe que levantà ³ al pueblo contra los invasores. (He was a leader who stirred up the people against the invaders.)Las expresiones de carià ±o mientras estuvo hospitalizada levantaron su espà ­ritu. (The expressions of affection while she was hospitalized lifted her spirits.) In context, levantar can mean to suspend, adjourn or call off an event: Las mujeres la ciudad norteà ±a levantaron huelga de hambre tras alcanzar los objetivos. (The women in the northern city called off their hunger strike after reaching their goals.)Se levantà ³ el corte. (The court was adjourned.)Rusia levantarà ¡ embargo a la exportacià ³n de grano. (Russia will lift the embargo on grain exports.) Similarly, levantar sometimes means to undo or unmake: La policà ­a levantà ³ campamento y detuvierion a los manifestantes. (The police broke up the camp and detained the protesters.)Pablo levantà ³ la cama y abrià ³ la ventana. (Pablo unmade the bed and opened the window.) Using the Reflexive, Levantarse In the reflexive form, levantarse frequently means to wake up or to arise from bed:  ¡No me quiero levantar! (I dont want to get up!)Catrina se levantà ³ de la cama con dificultad. (Catrina got out of bed with difficulty.)Entonces se levantà ³ para ir al aeropuerto. (Then he got up to go to their airport.) Levantarse can also be used for other instances of a person or thing rising on its own volition: El boxeador se levantà ³ y regresà ³ al cuadrilà ¡tero. (The boxer got up and returned to the ring.)El cohete se levantà ³ lentamente de la plataforma. (The rocket lifted off from the platform.)Tanta pobreza y explotacià ³n fueron el motivo de que la gente se levantara en armas. (So much poverty and exploitation were the reason the people rose yup in arms.) Words Based on Levantar A noun form of levantar is levantamiento. It refer to an act of lifting or raising. El levantamiento de pesas es un deporte que consiste en el levantamiento del mà ¡ximo peso posible. (Weightlifting is a port that consists of the lifting of the maximum weight possible.)El tà ©rmino mà ©dico para un levantamiento de pà ¡rpados es blefaroplastia. (The medical term for an eyebrow lift is blepharoplasty.) A levantador or levantadora is a person or thing that lifts something. It is most often used for a weightlifter or various kinds of tools used for lifting. La levantadora ganà ³ su segunda medalla de oro. (The weightlifter won her second gold medal.)El levantador de vacà ­a se usa con hojas de vidrio. (The vacuum lifting device is used with panes of glass.) Etymology and English Words Related to Levantar Levantar comes from Latin verb levÄ re, which had a similar meaning. There is no English equivalent of levantar that comes from the same source, although levitate is a related word with a similar meaning. Also related is levity, which refers to an emotional lightness. In fact, the English light, when it refers to something not heavy, is a distantly connected with this family of words. Key Takeaways The Spanish verb levantar usually means to lift or raise something, either literally or figuratively.The reflexive form levantarse is used for a person or thing rising on its own, including a person getting up after sleep.