boost

verb \ ˈbüst \

|Updated on: 21 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: boost in a Sentence

Definition of boost

boosted; boosting; boosts

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

intransitive verb

slang : shoplift

See boost defined for English-language learners

See boost defined for kids

Examples of boost in a Sentence

She boosted the boy onto his father's shoulders.
boosted the child into her car seat

Recent Examples of boost from the Web

But a short 20-minute nap can boost alertness and improve job performance.

— brooke bobb, Vogue, "I Paid $25 For a 45-Minute Nap at NYC’s New Sleep Store—and Yes, It Was Dreamy," 13 July 2018
Even if your hair is fine, a tiny amount of oil can dramatically boost its luster.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "Everything You Need to Know About Putting Oils on Your Face," 12 July 2018
And while the latest round of tax cuts is supposed to boost the economy, that’s not guaranteed to happen.

— emily stewart, Vox, "America’s getting $10 trillion in tax cuts, and 20% of them are going the richest 1%," 11 July 2018
In its first year, East Aurora School District 131’s new busing program likely boosted middle school attendance, according to early district estimates.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "East Aurora busing likely boosted middle school attendance, district says," 6 July 2018
The Marlins shortstop — who played all 26 innings of the previous two games between Miami and Tampa Bay — nearly singlehandedly boosted his team to a 3-0 win over the Rays on Wednesday afternoon.

— matthew defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "JT Riddle's big day backs Jose Ureña's return to rotation in Marlins win," 4 July 2018
Bland foods, such as toast and crackers, may boost your blood sugar and settle your stomach.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Fourth of July: Hangover cures for your patriotic beverage binge," 4 July 2018
While many of the price changes in the individual rounds hover at or under 10 percent—many at 9.4 percent—the hikes collectively boost many drugs’ prices by double-digit percentages for the year overall.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Pfizer raises prices on 100 drugs—again—despite backlash from public, lawmakers," 3 July 2018
The same Doppler boosting effect also allows the faint light from the early universe to be amplified, aiding detection.

— Scientific American, "Astronomy at the Speed of Light," 3 July 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of boost

of obscure origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1801

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

boost Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of boost

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.