Lift — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun

Meaning & Definition of Lift

Lift (verb)

  1. to move from a lower to a higher place or position
  2. to move or extend upward
  3. to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep

Lift (noun)

  1. an act or instance of helping
  2. a means of getting to a destination in a vehicle driven by another

Lift (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "I needed help lifting the heavy globe back up to the top shelf"

    similar: boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), 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

  2. 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"

    similar: arise, ascend, aspire, climb, mount, rise, soar, thrust, up, uprear, uprise, upthrust, upturn
    related: surge, tower, boost, elevate, raise, upheave, uplift, upraise, balloon, blast off, take off, zoom, crest, scale, surmount, top, cant, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip
    opposite: decline, descend, dip, drop, fall (off), plunge
    near: dive, nose-dive, plummet, sink, slide

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

    "she turned her back for just a moment, and somebody lifted her purse"

    similar: appropriate, boost (slang), filch, heist, hook, 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

Lift (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act or instance of helping

    "the company's senior vice president gave his son a much-needed lift up the corporate ladder"

    similar: abetment, aid, assist, assistance, backing, boost, hand, help, helping hand, leg up, 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. 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"

    similar: ride, transportation
    related: drive, spin, turn, joyride, conveyance, passage, transit, transport

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lift

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lift:

Slang: boost
British slang: nick
crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), perk (up), pick up, raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise, arise, ascend, aspire, climb, mount, rise, soar, thrust, uprear, uprise, upthrust, upturn, appropriate, filch, heist, hook, misappropriate, nip, pilfer, pinch, pocket, purloin, rip off, snitch

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lift

Words with the opposite meaning of Lift:

drop, lower, decline, descend, dip, fall (off), plunge, hindrance

Related Words for Lift

rear, upend, surge, tower, upheave, balloon, blast off, take off, zoom, crest, scale, surmount, top, cant, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip, burglarize, knock over, rob, loot, pillage, plunder, sack, carjack

Near Antonyms of Lift

fall, pitch, slip, bear, depress, press, push, sink, submerge, dive, nose-dive, plummet, slide, buy, purchase, bestow, contribute, donate, give, hand over, present, constraint, frustration, inhibition, interference, obstruction, repression, restraint, deterrence, discouragement

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Lift

Frequently Asked Questions about Lift

What does "Lift" mean?

"Lift" means to move from a lower to a higher place or position. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to move from a lower to a higher place or position. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lift"?

Other words for "Lift" include boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike and hoist. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lift" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lift"?

There are 147 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lift". Common alternatives include boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up) and perk (up).

What is the opposite of "Lift"?

Antonyms of "Lift" include drop, lower, decline, descend, dip, fall (off), plunge and hindrance. Near antonyms include fall, pitch, slip and bear.

How do you use "Lift" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lift" in a sentence: "I needed help lifting the heavy globe back up to the top shelf"; "once the sun started to cut through the morning fog, the colorful hot-air balloons began to lift off from the field"; "she turned her back for just a moment, and somebody lifted her purse".

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

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

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

As an A2-level word, "Lift" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

What is another word for "Lift" meaning "to move from a lower to a higher place or position"?

When "Lift" (verb) means to move from a lower to a higher place or position, synonyms include boost, crane, elevate, heave, heft and heighten. Opposites in this sense include drop and lower.