lever/lə.ve/
verb / noun · A1 · Frequency 587
verb
Meanings
to raise, lift
Refers to moving an object from a lower to a higher position.
to rise; to stand up
Commonly used pronominally: se lever.
to get up (out of bed)
Refers to a person getting out of bed.
Examples
Il faut lever cette valise avec les deux mains.
You have to lift this suitcase with both hands.
Le mécanicien va lever la voiture pour inspecter les roues.
The mechanic is going to lift the car to inspect the wheels.
La mairie doit lever cette interdiction avant l'été.
The town hall must lift this ban before summer.
Il faudra lever les débris avant de réparer la route.
The debris will have to be cleared before the road can be repaired.
Collocations
- lever la mainto raise the hand
- le soleil se lèvethe sun rises
- se lever tôtto get up early
Common mistakes
Nous lèvons la main.
Nous levons la main.
In the present tense, lever keeps the stem without an accent in the first-person plural: nous levons, not nous lèvons. The accent appears in some singular forms and in ils/elles lèvent.
Related words
synonymsouleverto raise, to lift up, to pick up
antonymbaisserto lower, to make something go down
Grammar note
The verb lever, when used as a pronominal verb, forms compound tenses with the auxiliary être.
nounmasculine
Meanings
the act of getting up in the morning
Refers to the action of getting up from sleep, commonly used in everyday contexts.
a lever, a rigid bar used to exert force on an object
Refers to a rigid bar used in physics and mechanics to amplify force, commonly found in mechanical devices.
Examples
Le lever a été retardé par une nuit très courte.
Getting up was delayed by a very short night.
Son lever est toujours difficile en hiver.
Getting up is always difficult for him in winter.
Un lever matinal lui permet de travailler dans le calme.
Getting up early allows him to work in peace.
Collocations
- un lever matinalgetting up in the morning
Common mistakes
le lever
le lever du lit
Using “lever” alone as a noun can be confused with the verb; usually “lever du lit” is used to mean getting up time.
Related words
antonymcouchergoing to bed; bedtime
verb
Meanings
to raise, lift
Refers to moving an object from a lower to a higher position.
to rise; to stand up
Commonly used pronominally: se lever.
to get up (out of bed)
Refers to a person getting out of bed.
Examples
Levant la caisse à deux mains, il la posa sur l'étagère.
Lifting the crate with both hands, he placed it on the shelf.
Levant les yeux, elle aperçut un oiseau sur le toit.
Raising her eyes, she saw a bird on the roof.
Levant l'interdiction, la mairie a rouvert le parc.
Lifting the ban, the town hall reopened the park.
Grammar note
The verb lever, when used as a pronominal verb, forms compound tenses with the auxiliary être.
verb
Meanings
to raise, lift
Refers to moving an object from a lower to a higher position.
to rise; to stand up
Commonly used pronominally: se lever.
to get up (out of bed)
Refers to a person getting out of bed.
Examples
Il a levé la main pour demander la parole.
He raised his hand to ask to speak.
Le soleil est levé avant notre départ.
The sun had risen before we left.
Le garçon est levé dès six heures chaque matin.
The boy is up at six every morning.
Le camp a été levé après la fin du festival.
The camp was dismantled after the festival ended.
Grammar note
The verb lever, when used as a pronominal verb, forms compound tenses with the auxiliary être.
verb
Meanings
to raise, lift
Refers to moving an object from a lower to a higher position.
to rise; to stand up
Commonly used pronominally: se lever.
to get up (out of bed)
Refers to a person getting out of bed.
Examples
Elle lève le bras pour demander la parole.
She raises her arm to ask for the floor.
La pâte lève lentement dans la cuisine froide.
The dough rises slowly in the cold kitchen.
Le maire lève l'interdiction après le contrôle de sécurité.
The mayor lifts the ban after the safety inspection.
Le technicien lève la caisse avec un petit treuil.
The technician lifts the crate with a small winch.
Collocations
- lever la mainto raise the hand
- le soleil se lèvethe sun rises
- se lever tôtto get up early
Common mistakes
Nous lèvons la main.
Nous levons la main.
In the present tense, lever keeps the stem without an accent in the first-person plural: nous levons, not nous lèvons. The accent appears in some singular forms and in ils/elles lèvent.
Related words
synonymsouleverto raise, to lift up, to pick up
antonymbaisserto lower, to make something go down
Grammar note
The verb lever, when used as a pronominal verb, forms compound tenses with the auxiliary être.