Boost — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbüst/

Meaning & Definition of Boost

Boost (verb)

  1. to push or shove up from below
  2. increase, raise
  3. to promote the cause or interests of, plug

Boost (noun)

  1. a push upward
  2. an act that brings help or encouragement, assist
  3. an increase in amount

Boost (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lift with effort

    "boosted the child into her car seat"

    similar: heave, heft, hoist, jack (up), upheave
    related: elevate, hike, pick up, raise, rear, up, uplift, upraise, uprear
    near: depress, drop, lower, sink, submerge, submerse

  2. to make greater in size, amount, or number

    "a promotion that boosted the number of interested customers milling about the showroom"

    similar: accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up
    related: boom, jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, complement, supplement, beef (up), reinforce, strengthen, maximize, accumulate, amass, collect, follow up, parlay
    opposite: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)
    near: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench

  3. to make markedly greater in measure or degree

    "recommended eating foods that boost the body's immunity to disease"

    similar: accentuate, amp (up), amplify, beef (up), consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen
    related: broaden, enlarge, expand, extend, lengthen, accelerate, hasten, quicken, emphasize, point (up), sharpen, stress, augment, enforce, reinforce, restrengthen, supplement, maximize, enliven, jazz (up), aggravate, exacerbate
    opposite: abate, moderate
    near: decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), reduce, subdue, tone (down), weaken, dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane, alleviate, ease, lighten

  4. to move from a lower to a higher place or position

    "boosted the box onto the top shelf"

    similar: crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise
    related: ascend, mount, rise, rear, upend
    opposite: drop, lower
    near: descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip, bear, depress, press, push, sink, submerge

  5. to provide publicity for

    "boosted the singer's latest release with a round of appearances on all the talk and entertainment shows"

    similar: ballyhoo, hype, pitch, plug, promote, publicize, talk up, tout, beat the drum (for)
    related: advertise, bark, merchandise, sell, push, acclaim, hail, laud, praise, endorse, plump (for), plunk (for), recommend, review, announce, broadcast, publish

  6. to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep

    "the woman was nabbed trying to boost a couple of bottles of perfume"

    similar: appropriate, filch, heist, hook, lift, misappropriate, nick (British slang), nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch, steal, swipe, thieve, make away with, make off with, run off with, walk off with
    related: burglarize, knock over, rob, loot, pillage, plunder, sack, carjack, hijack, pick, rifle, poach, rustle, shoplift, collar, grab, grasp, nail, seize, snatch, take, mooch, sponge, abduct, kidnap, shanghai, spirit
    near: buy, purchase, bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present

Boost (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act or instance of helping

    "she always liked to give struggling families in the neighborhood a boost"

    similar: abetment, aid, assist, assistance, backing, hand, help, helping hand, leg up, lift, support
    related: advancement, encouragement, facilitation, forwarding, furtherance, furthering, nurturance, benefaction, patronage, promotion, sponsorship, advice, care, counsel, guidance, mentoring, attendance, attention, hand-holding, service, beneficence, charity, favor, kindness, philanthropy, assuagement, palliation, relief, succor
    opposite: hindrance
    near: constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint, deterrence, discouragement

  2. something added (as by growth)

    "a sudden boost in sales"

    similar: accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, expansion, gain, increase, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick
    related: accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, complement, accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike
    opposite: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    near: deduction, subtraction

  3. something that arouses action or activity

    "according to the President, a tax cut is just the boost that the economy needs"

    similar: encouragement, goad, impetus, impulse, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, stimulus, yeast, shot in the arm
    related: inducement, invitation, antecedent, cause, consideration, grounds, motive, occasion, reason, catalyst, catalyzer, fuel, spark
    opposite: counterincentive, disincentive

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Boost

The most common words with a similar meaning to Boost:

British slang: nick
heave, heft, hoist, jack (up), upheave, accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up, accentuate, amp (up), beef (up), consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen, crane, elevate, hike

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Boost

Words with the opposite meaning of Boost:

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from), moderate, drop, hindrance, abatement, decline, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down, counterincentive

Related Words for Boost

rear, uprear, boom, jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, complement, reinforce, maximize, accumulate, amass, collect, follow up, parlay, broaden, hasten

Near Antonyms of Boost

depress, sink, submerge, submerse, abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench, let up (on), subdue, tone (down), weaken, recede, subside, taper (off), wane, alleviate, ease, lighten, descend, dip, pitch, plunge, slip

Word Forms of Boost

Inflections: boosted, boosting, boosts

Origin & Etymology of Boost

of obscure origin

First known use: 1801t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Boost

Frequently Asked Questions about Boost

What does "Boost" mean?

"Boost" means to push or shove up from below. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to push or shove up from below. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Boost"?

Other words for "Boost" include heave, heft, hoist, jack (up), upheave, accelerate, add (to) and aggrandize. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Boost" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Boost"?

There are 256 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Boost". Common alternatives include heave, heft, hoist, jack (up), upheave, accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify and augment.

What is the opposite of "Boost"?

Antonyms of "Boost" include abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen and lower. Near antonyms include depress, sink, submerge and submerse.

How do you use "Boost" in a sentence?

Examples of "Boost" in a sentence: "boosted the child into her car seat"; "a promotion that boosted the number of interested customers milling about the showroom"; "recommended eating foods that boost the body's immunity to disease".

Is "Boost" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Boost" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Boost" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Boost" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Boost"?

"Boost" is pronounced /ˈbüst/.