boost

1 of 2

verb

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
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.

boost

2 of 2

noun

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
Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

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?
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Senegal’s authorities freed two key opposition leaders from prison, boosting the anti-establishment campaign before this month’s presidential elections. Katarina Hoije, Bloomberg.com, 15 Mar. 2024 Taking a daily fiber supplement could boost cognitive function in older adults, according to new research. Kristen Fischer, Health, 15 Mar. 2024 That growth has helped boost the economy in Santa Clara, a suburb wedged between San Jose and Apple’s home of Cupertino. Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 The invasion gave Putin a nationalist message around which to rally Russians, boosting his own image, and even as Russia’s campaign stuttered over the course of 2023, the war retained widespread support. Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 San Francisco ties welfare to drug screening, boosts police powers in stunning tough-on-crime shift The first measure, Proposition E, bolsters police powers in the city. Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 But DeMaio also spent resources boosting Kevin Juza, the candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party, who likely wouldn’t have much of a chance in that district in November. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Cities are looking to boost supply by loosening zoning rules on new home construction, although so far, restrictions on new housing keep getting tighter, says Professor Seiler. Leonardo Bevilacqua, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2024 The track was recorded in Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studio with the hopes of boosting support for Democratic Representative Gloria Johnson, who is running for U.S. Senate. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Klee and Cohen got a boost from a viral social media phenomenon in 2014 that involved people dousing themselves or others with ice water and filming it to raise money for ALS. Daniel Gilbert, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 It's got a boost of soothing vitamin E and has a pleasant mint scent. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 The new staff has already seen a boost of energy around the program on the recruiting trail. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Elsewhere San Diego State (6-10, 2-4 Mountain West) got a boost heading into its weekend conference series at Air Force (6-9, 2-1), with third baseman Tino Bethancourt’s walkoff single in Tuesday night’s 5-4 win over UC Riverside. Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 These head-turning spritzes are color-safe, instantly refresh your hair with a boost of hydration and shine, and make a nice way to level up your self-care routine. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024 Cosmetics, offers a confidence boost via motivational chats with everyone from actors and comedians to athletes and beauty pros. Alex Apatoff, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Apple has been pushing on soccer in particular, inking a streaming deal with MLS that got a big boost with the arrival of Lionel Messi in Miami. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024 The decrease, which contributed to the boost in the average hourly earnings data point, was likely due to the frigid temperatures and snow in January that affected work in weather-sensitive industries, Faucher said. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boost.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

of obscure origin

Noun

noun derivative of boost entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1801, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boost was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near boost

Cite this Entry

“Boost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boost. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

boost

1 of 2 verb
1
: to push or shove up from below
2
: to increase in force, power, or amount
boost production
boost prices
3
: further entry 2, raise
boost morale
4
: to support enthusiastically : plug

boost

2 of 2 noun
1
: a push upward
2
: an increase in amount
a boost in production
3
: an act that gives help or encouragement

Medical Definition

boost

transitive verb
: to administer a booster shot to
Cape Cod is getting assistance from the state in vaccinating and boosting people against COVID-19 with 12 free public vaccination clinics …Cynthia McCormick, Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Massachusetts)
… the Anne Arundel County Department of Health would like to remind visitors to the Annapolis celebrations to get vaccinated (or boosted), wear a mask, and maintain distance.US Fed News

More from Merriam-Webster on boost

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