boost

verb

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\ ˈbüst

boosted; boosting; boosts

Definition of boost

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to push or shove up from below boosted him up over the fence

2 : increase, raise plans to boost production an extra holiday to boost morale

3 : to promote the cause or interests of : plug a campaign to boost the new fashions

4 : to raise the voltage of or across (an electric circuit)

5 slang : steal, shoplift

6 : to administer a booster shot to The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized the practice of boosting people with a shot that's different from their primary series.— Adria Cimino Mr. Biden … pleaded with Americans to get vaccinated or boosted with an extra dose if they haven't already, saying the shots appeared to stave off deaths from the previous worrisome mutation, the delta variant.— Tom Howell, Jr.

intransitive verb

slang : shoplift

boost

noun

Definition of boost (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a push upward gave her a boost into the saddle

2 : an act that brings help or encouragement : assist an innovation that has been a boost to the entire industry

3 : an increase in amount a boost in prices

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About boost

Synonyms & Antonyms for boost

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Antonyms: Noun

hindrance

Choose the Right Synonym for boost

Verb

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 boost in a Sentence

Verb She boosted the boy onto his father's shoulders. boosted the child into her car seat Noun a boost in wheat production Exercise can sometimes provide a boost of energy. After layoffs at the company, employees needed a boost in morale. One company's innovation has proven to be a boost to the entire industry. Give the boy a boost onto the stage, will you? See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Intelligence is not limited to people who received tutoring to boost their SAT scores by 300 points. — David Moise, Forbes, 23 May 2022 Hundreds of thousands of parents in the U.S. are scrambling to find formula for their babies, and President Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era national-security law to boost domestic production. — Emily Ekins, WSJ, 22 May 2022 The imports will fill immediate gaps while also buying time for domestic manufacturers to boost production. — Washington Post, 22 May 2022 The legislation is intended to boost chip production and guard against future interruptions to the supply chain. — USA TODAY, 20 May 2022 China has been trying to boost coal production since last year, when a severe power crisis triggered blackouts for millions of households and forced many factories to cut production. — Laura He, CNN, 20 May 2022 This mask includes kaolin clay to assist with removing excess oil from the pores and hyaluronic acid to boost moisture. — ELLE, 20 May 2022 Seasoned producers and a new generation of film and television creators alike are looking at the wider world to boost Taiwan’s cultural reach and influence — while also increasing their audience and generating greater revenue. — Karen Chu, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2022 Since then, dozens of communities in the state have created DORAs to boost economic development in downtown areas and business corridors. — Megan Becka, cleveland, 19 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Other experts noted that US energy companies are poised to get a boost from many European nations cutting back on Russian oil due to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. — Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 10 May 2022 The restaurant takes his family recipes and blends them with his classical training: chicken and waffles, grits served with shrimp or catfish, croissant French toast with fried chicken and oxtail tamales all get a boost. — Rebecca Treon, Chron, 2 May 2022 Torres, a special education teacher, is one of hundreds of educators across Sante Fe whose paycheck will get a boost this year after New Mexico legislators voted to increase teacher pay. — NBC News, 23 Apr. 2022 Ahead of the show there was speculation about whether or not one act would draw more fans to the mainstage, or if Swedish House Mafia’s comeback might get a boost from this major crossover moment with The Weeknd’s fanbase. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2022 The Cavs, who played shorthanded in every matchup with Atlanta this season, could get a big boost Friday night. — Chris Fedor, cleveland, 14 Apr. 2022 Martin Luther has six players back from the team that won a regional title and could get a boost from Lokker, who was an all-conference player at Greendale last season. — Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2022 Those hopes should get a boost with Davis, and maybe even James, returning to the court, but the Lakers are running out of time. — Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2022 The Patriots would get a boost if players like Smith and Agholor played better. — Mark Daniels, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boost.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.