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Glite Dictionary
to raise someone's spirits

to raise someone's spirits

1 3.4
Help someone feel happier
  • idiom
translation icon : elevar el ánimo
  • I've put them there... to raise your spirits in dreaming of the day when you'll walk out in them.

Examples

  • The summer sun raised everyone's spirits.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "That seemed to raise the kid's spirits, but Penelope suddenly looked unhappy.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Raise your spirits, my dear friends.

    Hawaii (1966)

  • Even Father can't raise their spirits.

    The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

  • That fact raised Charlie's spirits quickly.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Let us stand together, as they raise our spirits every inch as high as that flag to show that our union is still as strong as ever.

    Eagle Eye (2008)

  • All right, I'm sorry, I'm just tryin' to... raise your spirits up a little bit.

    Wishing for a Dream (2016)

  • The comedian's jokes always raise someone's spirits during tough times.

  • Listening to her favorite music can really raise my spirits when I'm feeling down.

  • A warm cup of tea in the morning helps to raise her spirits before work.

Synonyms

to cheer
vsto raise someone's spirits
392 1.0

To make someone feel happier

is the general mood lift but can be less active encouragement
to make (someone) feel better
vsto raise someone's spirits
329 1.5

Help someone feel happier when they are sad or sick

is about raising cheer rather than broader emotional or physical recovery
to cheer up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
234 1.4

To feel happier after being sad or to make someone feel happier

is broader mood lifting, not only recovery from sadness
to lift
vsto raise someone's spirits
215 3.7

To help someone become better off or more confident

focuses on mood change without implying status or situation change
to lighten
vsto raise someone's spirits
104 3.4

To make people or a situation feel more cheerful

is focused on lifting someone's mood rather than the general atmosphere
to lighten up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
69 4.1

To become or make someone feel more cheerful and relaxed

is simple mood lifting without the relaxed or less serious tone
to liven up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
66 3.9

To make or become more active and interesting

raises mood but may not change general liveliness or interest
to make someone smile
vsto raise someone's spirits
54 1.0

Cause someone to feel happy or amused

raises overall mood rather than only creating amusement or a smile
to pump up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
28 4.1

Make someone feel excited and full of energy

focuses on calm mood lifting rather than energetic excitement
to uplift
vsto raise someone's spirits
23 3.2

To make someone feel happier and more hopeful

is about simple cheer rather than strong inspiration
to elate
vsto raise someone's spirits
19 6.4

To make someone feel very happy and proud

is milder, focusing on ordinary cheer rather than intense elation
to lift up
vsto raise someone's spirits
19 3.7

To make someone feel happier and more hopeful

is simpler mood lifting without the strong optimism element
to brighten up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
17 2.7

Make a room or person more cheerful

is the straightforward act of improving mood rather than changing appearance
to perk up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
16 3.1

Become more lively and cheerful after feeling tired or sad

raises mood generally rather than specifically after tiredness
to buck up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
14 6.3

To become or make someone more cheerful and confident

is mood lifting without the added idea of bravery or self-encouragement
to hearten
vsto raise someone's spirits
13 5.5

Make someone feel happier or more confident

is mood lifting without the explicit encouragement or confidence boost
to bring joy
vsto raise someone's spirits
12 2.3

To make someone feel happy

raises mood but may not create ongoing cheer or uplift
to brighten one's day
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
8 2.8

To make someone feel happier or more cheerful

is a plain mood lift without implying a special day change
to lift one's spirits
vsto raise someone's spirits
8 3.9

To make someone feel happier

is the same idea but expressed as the general mood change
to enthuse
vsto raise someone's spirits
7 5.5

To make someone feel excited about something

is general cheer rather than focused excitement about an object
to boost morale
vsto raise someone's spirits
5 3.7

Make people feel more confident and positive

is personal mood lifting rather than organized group morale boosting
to spirit up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
3 7.0

Make someone feel happier and full of energy

is about raising mood without emphasizing group morale or action
to pep up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
3 4.1

Make someone or something more lively and interesting

is about mood uplift but not necessarily added energy
to warm the cockles of one's heart
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
2 7.5

To make someone feel happy and warm inside

is the everyday act of lifting mood rather than deep emotional warmth
to make someone's day
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
2 3.0

To give someone a lot of happiness, often by a small kind act

is general mood lifting rather than causing strong special pleasure
to lift someone's spirits
vsto raise someone's spirits
1 3.9

To make someone feel happier when they are sad

is the general act of improving someone's mood rather than crisis help
to turn a frown upside down
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Informal
1 6.0

Help someone stop being sad and start smiling

is general mood raising not only for visible sadness
to buoy up
vsto raise someone's spirits
5.3

To make someone feel more cheerful and confident

focuses on simple mood lifting rather than growing confidence
to jolly up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • UK
8.2

To try to make someone feel happier when they are sad

is the plain act of improving mood without the trying aspect
to chirk up
vsto raise someone's spirits
  • Archaic
8.6

To make someone feel happier or more lively

is about raising mood generally rather than the lively nuance
to chase away the gloom
vsto raise someone's spirits
5.5

Make someone feel less sad and more cheerful

is broader mood improvement rather than specifically removing gloom

Antonyms

to discourage
257 3.5

To try to stop something by making people less willing to do it

to depress
32 4.1

To make someone feel sad and lose hope

How Cheerful

to elate
19 6.4
to cheer up
  • Informal
234 1.4
to raise someone's spirits
1 3.4
to comfort
172 1.0

Surface Forms

raise someone's spirits infinitive
raised someone's spirits past
raised someone's spirits past participle
raising someone's spirits present participle
raises someone's spirits third person singular

Morphology

raise + someone's + spirit

The meaning is directly built from 'raise' (to lift/increase) plus 'spirit(s)' (a person's mood or energy), so 'raise someone's spirits' transparently conveys 'lift someone's mood'. This compositional metaphor (lifting mood) is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Raise someone's spirits uses raise in the simple sense 'lift up' and spirits to mean a person's mood. Imagine lifting a heavy weight from someone's shoulders so they feel lighter and happier, which is why it means 'to make someone feel happier'.