lift
1 of 3verb
ˈlift 
lifted; lifting; lifts
transitive verb
1
a
: to raise from a lower to a higher position : elevate
b
: to raise in rank or condition
c
: to raise in rate or amount
2
: to put an end to (a blockade or siege) by withdrawing or causing the withdrawal of investing forces
3
: revoke, rescind
lift an embargo
4
a
: steal
had her purse lifted
b
: plagiarize
c
: to take out of normal setting
lift a word out of context
5
: to take up (something, such as a root crop or transplants) from the ground
6
: to pay off (an obligation)
lift a mortgage
7
: to move from one place to another (as by aircraft) : transport
8
: to take up (a fingerprint) from a surface
intransitive verb
1
a
: ascend, rise
the rocket lifted off
b
: to appear elevated (as above surrounding objects)
2
of inclement weather : to dissipate and clear
liftable
ˈlif-tə-bəl
adjective lifter noun
lift
2 of 3noun (1)
1
: the amount that may be lifted at one time : load
2
a
: the action or an instance of lifting
b
: the action or an instance of rising
c
: elevated carriage (as of a body part)
d
: the lifting up (as of a dancer) usually by a partner
3
: a device (such as a handle or latch) for lifting
4
: an act of stealing : theft
5
a
: assistance, help
b
: a ride especially along one's way
6
: a layer in the heel of a shoe
7
: a rise or advance in position or condition
8
: a slight rise or elevation
9
: the distance or extent to which something rises
10
: an apparatus or machine used for hoisting: such as
a
: a set of pumps used in a mine
b
chiefly British : elevator sense 1b
c
: an apparatus for raising an automobile (as for repair)
d
: ski lift
11
a
: an elevating influence
b
: an elevation of the spirit
12
a
: the component of the total aerodynamic force acting on an airplane or airfoil that is perpendicular to the relative wind and that for an airplane constitutes the upward force that opposes the pull of gravity
b
: an updraft that can be used to increase altitude (as of a sailplane)
13
: an organized movement of people, equipment, or supplies by some form of transportation
especially : airlift
14
: plastic surgery on a part of the body typically to improve a drooping or sagging appearance especially by reducing excess skin and fat
a neck lift
lift
3 of 3noun (2)
chiefly Scotland
: heavens, sky
Synonyms
Verb
- boost
- crane
- elevate
- heave
- heft
- heighten
- hike
- hoist
- jack (up)
- perk (up)
- pick up
- raise
- take up
- up
- uphold
- uplift
- upraise
Noun (1)
- abetment
- aid
- assist
- assistance
- backing
- boost
- hand
- help
- helping hand
- leg up
- support
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The paramedics lifted the stretcher into the ambulance. lift a bucket of water He lifted his foot from the gas pedal. He lifted his pen from the paper. She lifted her hands to the sky. The story lifted him to national recognition. See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Old Norse lypta; akin to Old English lyft air — more at loft
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old English lyft
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing lift
Kids Definition
lift 1 of 2
verb
ˈlift
lifted; lifting
1
: to raise from a lower to a higher position, rate, or amount
2
: to rise from the ground The balloon lifted into the sky.
3
: to move upward and disappear or become scattered
The haze lifted.
lift
2 of 2noun
1
: the action or an instance of picking up and raising
He showed his surprise with a lift of his eyebrows.
2
: an improved mood or condition The good test grade gave her a lift.
3
: a ride in a vehicle
She gave me a lift to school.
4
chiefly British : elevator sense 1
5
: an upward force (as on an airplane wing) that opposes the pull of gravity
Medical Definition
lift
noun
ˈlift
: plastic surgery on a part of the body typically to improve a drooping or sagging appearance especially by reducing excess skin and fat
… many plastic surgeons claim that doing a brow lift or a neck lift at an earlier age can help postpone more invasive face-lifts later on …
Liz Welch, Glamour
Liz Welch, Glamour Legal Definition
lift
transitive verb
: to put an end to : make no longer effective
lift the stay
lift 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to hoist
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
Relevance
- hoist
- raise
- elevate
- uplift
- crane
- boost
- heave
- up
- hike
- heighten
- uphold
- take up
- heft
- upraise
- rise
- ascend
- mount
- pick up
- jack (up)
- perk (up)
- rear
- upend
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- drop
- lower
- push
- fall
- descend
- slip
- dip
- plunge
- depress
- bear
- pitch
- press
- sink
- submerge
2
as in to climb
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
- climb
- rise
- ascend
- soar
- up
- thrust
- mount
- upturn
- slope
- tilt
- uplift
- aspire
- upthrust
- tower
- arise
- surge
- uprise
- elevate
- lean
- boost
- uprear
- raise
- incline
- scale
- top
- balloon
- tip
- upheave
- upraise
- zoom
- crest
- surmount
- blast off
- slant
- take off
- cant
- recline
- list
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- drop
- fall (off)
- descend
- plunge
- dip
- decline
- slide
- sink
- dive
- plummet
- nose-dive
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
- steal
- swipe
- grab
- snatch
- boost
- hook
- pinch
- appropriate
- rip off
- pilfer
- filch
- rob
- pocket
- nip
- take
- purloin
- thieve
- pick
- heist
- snitch
- hijack
- nick
- misappropriate
- seize
- knock over
- sack
- run off with
- walk off with
- loot
- rifle
- plunder
- grasp
- make away with
- make off with
- spirit
- poach
- kidnap
- pillage
- collar
- shoplift
- sponge
- nail
- carjack
- burglarize
- abduct
- highjack
- rustle
- shanghai
- mooch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- buy
- give
- purchase
- contribute
- present
- bestow
- donate
- hand over
lift
2 of 2noun
1
as in help
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
- help
- boost
- assist
- assistance
- support
- aid
- hand
- encouragement
- backing
- advice
- helping hand
- guidance
- service
- leg up
- promotion
- abetment
- facilitation
- sponsorship
- advancement
- kindness
- patronage
- forwarding
- furthering
- benefaction
- attention
- attendance
- relief
- furtherance
- nurturance
- care
- mentoring
- counsel
- succor
- favor
- beneficence
- charity
- hand-holding
- assuagement
- philanthropy
- palliation
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- interference
- restraint
- hindrance
- obstruction
- constraint
- inhibition
- repression
- frustration
- discouragement
- deterrence
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
- ride
- transportation
- transport
- drive
- turn
- spin
- transit
- conveyance
- passage
- joyride
Synonym Chooser
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
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
Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.
elevated the taste of the public
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
The meanings of hoist and lift largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.
hoisted the cargo on board
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
Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.
suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs