hoist

verb

ˈhȯist 

chiefly dialectal

ˈhīst 

hoisted; hoisting; hoists

transitive verb

1

: lift, raise

especially : to raise into position by or as if by means of tackle

hoist a flag

hoist the sails

Cargo was hoisted up into the ship.

2

: drink sense 1

hoist a few beers

intransitive verb

: to become hoisted : rise

let it hoist to the upper deck

hoister noun

Synonyms of hoist

• heave

Choose the Right Synonym for hoist

lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost 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

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

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

elevated the taste of the public

hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

Examples of hoist in a Sentence

The steel girders were hoisted into place and securely welded.

The engine was hoisted out with a winch.

The cargo was hoisted up onto the ship.

He stopped at a bar after work to hoist a few beers with his friends.

She hoisted a last-second shot that would have won the game if it had gone in.

Recent Examples on the Web

Furthermore, hoisting the trophy would secure the final crucial points needed to grant her automatic entry into the LPGA Hall of Fame. —Bob Buttitta, Daily News, 7 June 2026

Another 103 matches – including six in Santa Clara – will be played until one of the 48 countries hoists the iconic gold trophy on July 19 in New Jersey. —Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 7 June 2026

Sinner’s Early Exit Sinner entered the tournament with -275 odds to win it all, implying a roughly 70% chance of his hoisting the trophy. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 7 June 2026

In fairness, the NBA’s young stars usually experience playoff failure before hoisting a championship trophy. —Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of hoise

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing hoist

• hoist by one's own petard
• hoist with one's own petard

Rhymes for hoist

• foist
• joist
• moist
• voiced
• invoiced
• rejoiced
• unvoiced

Kids Definition

hoist

1 of 2 verb

ˈhȯist 

: to raise or become raised into position especially by mechanical means

hoister noun

hoist

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of hoisting : lift

2

: a machine for hoisting heavy loads