aloft

1 of 2

adverb

1
: at or to a great height
measuring the winds aloft
2
: in the air
especially : in flight (as in an airplane)
meals served aloft
3
: at, on, or to the masthead or the higher rigging
went aloft to unfurl the sails

aloft

2 of 2

preposition

: on top of : above
bright signs aloft hotels

Examples of aloft in a Sentence

Adverb The balloon stayed aloft for days. the ease with which he can hold a ballerina aloft with one hand is awesome
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adverb
And while many bowed their heads in reflection and prayer, others held their mobile phones aloft, trying to take photos of Francis at rest, CNN footage filmed on Wednesday inside the basilica showed. Issy Ronald and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025 By noon on Friday, more than 150,000 people had filed past Francis’ open coffin placed in front of the basilica’s main altar to pay their respects — at times praying, at times holding smartphones aloft — despite instructions not to. Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025 However, phones are a dominant presence in the crowd, with many people holding them aloft to capture images of the pope. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 Simply staying aloft at extreme altitude requires pilots to operate close to the performance ceiling of their aircraft with little or no room for error. Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aloft

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, from Old Norse ā lopt, from ā on, in + lopt air — more at on, loft

Preposition

Middle English alofte, derivative of alofte aloft entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aloft was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aloft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aloft. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

aloft

adverb or adjective
ə-ˈlȯft
1
: in the air
especially : in flight
2
: at, on, or to the higher rigging of a sailing ship

More from Merriam-Webster on aloft

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!