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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • At the same time, these updates raise questions about the Oscars broadcast itself.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The incident with Lauren had understandably raised questions on whether Weezer’s set would still happen.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of raise
Verb
  • Famous Biscuits The petite breads rise tall and proud, tender and fluffy.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Fans chose sides, hashtags trended, and both artists saw streaming numbers rise.
    — Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of rise
Verb
  • Coop is fired from his high-profile finance job, starts stealing from his wealthy neighbors to keep up his lifestyle, chaos ensues, and get your popcorn ready.
    — Danielle Pergament, SELF, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The biggest concern for cemetery board members is the bronze doors stolen from three mausoleums, which can be worth more than $10,000 per set.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of steal
Noun
  • Van Lith also broke the single-season record for assists and scoring while leading TCU to the Elite Eight.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Bold tactic allows Bassett to shine, play with comfort Rapids midfielder Djordje Mihailovic believes Cole Bassett can get a little bit too preoccupied thinking about goals and assists to actually score and provide them.
    — Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of assist
Noun
  • As the local lore goes, a taxi driver on Archer Avenue picked up a strange woman who, during the ride, seemed to vanish.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Police claim the accident was due to a faulty or malfunctioning seat belt on the ride, Times of India reported.
    — Rachel Raposas, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of ride
Verb
  • In the past two elections, however, Chicago voters elevated amateurs to the mayor’s office, with no management experience and minor political histories.
    — Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The Hundred Lie on your back with your legs lifted into tabletop position, your head and shoulders elevated off the floor, and both arms reaching forward, parallel to the floor.
    — Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of elevate
Verb
  • Police became aware someone had climbed over the fence and began a pursuit on the grounds but initially didn’t locate anyone.
    — Marc Levy, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Apple, which relies on a supply chain based largely in China, saw shares climb 2.2%.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 14 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 20 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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