lift 1 of 2

verb

ˈlift How to pronounce lift (audio)
Definition of liftnext
1
as in to raise
to move from a lower to a higher place or position I needed help lifting the heavy globe back up to the top shelf

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rise
to move or extend upward once the sun started to cut through the morning fog, the colorful hot-air balloons began to lift off from the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep she turned her back for just a moment, and somebody lifted her purse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lift

2 of 2

noun

1
as in assist
an act or instance of helping the company's senior vice president gave his son a much-needed lift up the corporate ladder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ride
a means of getting to a destination in a vehicle driven by another I'll need a lift to work while my car is in the shop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lift contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lift are boost, elevate, heave, hoist, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

When is boost a more appropriate choice than lift?

The words boost and lift can be used in similar contexts, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for lift?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When would heave be a good substitute for lift?

Although the words heave and lift have much in common, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When is it sensible to use hoist instead of lift?

The meanings of hoist and lift largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

In what contexts can raise take the place of lift?

While in some cases nearly identical to lift, raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How are the words rear and raise related as synonyms of lift?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lift
Verb
Simeone tried to lift his team, bellowing at Rodrigo De Paul at one point and putting his arm around Alvarez’s shoulder the next. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025 Shutting off fossil fuels isn’t an option when the priority is lifting hundreds of millions into the middle class. — Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
But giving her wig a face lift by dunking it into a bowl of hair dye just before being this year’s undisputed icon, was just that. — India Espy-Jones, Essence, 4 Apr. 2025 Nintendo’s first-person shooter controls get a major lift as players can now use the mouse mode for more precise target practice. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lift
  1. raise
  2. rise
  3. steal
  4. assist
  5. ride
  6. elevate
  7. climb
  8. swipe
Verb
  • Questions have been raised for years regarding the level of care at the institution.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2025
  • By comparison, Fine raised less than $1 million between November 26, 2024, and March 3.
    — Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of raise
Verb
  • Famous Biscuits The petite breads rise tall and proud, tender and fluffy.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
  • China’s tariffs would rise by one percentage point; the European Union’s would shift by even less.
    — Ben Blatt, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of rise
Verb
  • Carla O’Brien, a Pennsylvania mother and wife of a Pittsburgh Police lieutenant, is accused of stealing $147,408 from the Fox Chapel Baseball Softball Association (FCABSA) for personal use during her time as treasurer, according to the Bridgeville Signal Item and other area outlets.
    — Bailey Richards, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The speedster can take extra bases on hits or steal them after reaching.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of steal
Noun
  • Freshman Joyce Edwards added 13 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for South Carolina (35-3), which used its experience and poise to weather an early deficit and took control with its depth.
    — Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The commanding effort was led by freshman forward Sarah Strong who contributed on both ends of the court, filling her stat line with 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal.
    — Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of assist
Noun
  • While some of these new releases promise theatrical roller-coaster rides, others are best kept for a night on the couch or even a cross-country flight.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Navigating the market’s wild swings may be nerve-wracking, but certain dividend stocks can help smooth the ride, according to investor Jenny Harrington.
    — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of ride
Verb
  • This pull-forward was expected to keep cargo numbers elevated into the spring, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and trade consulting firm Hackett Associates.
    — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Standing comfortably in the fairway with a chance to elevate into a new stratosphere, just one shot back of the leader Scottie Scheffler, Åberg and caddie Joe Skovron agreed on a 5-iron starting out well right of the water and drawing over to the green.
    — Brody Miller, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of elevate
Verb
  • Young people learn how to not get hurt by negotiating scenarios in which getting hurt is possible, such as climbing a tree or leaping from a swing at its zenith.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Myanmar earthquake, The death toll from the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar last week has climbed to over 3,000 people.
    — Jade Walker, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of climb
Verb
  • Jose Siri, pinch-running for Mark Vientos, swiped second in the top of the eighth, and with one out, Tyrone Taylor singled up the middle off George Soriano to send him home.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Lee totaled three hits, scored two runs and swiped his third base of the season as the Giants beat the Seattle Mariners, 4-1, on Matt Chapman’s bobblehead night, extending their winning streak to six games and improving to 7-1 for the first time since 2003.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of swipe

Browse Nearby Words

lifeworks
lift
lifted
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Cite this Entry

“Lift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lift. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lift

Nglish: Translation of lift for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lift

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