uplift

verb up·lift \ (ˌ)əp-ˈlift \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: uplift in a Sentence

uplifted; uplifting; uplifts

transitive verb

1 : to lift up : elevate; especially : to cause (a portion of the earth's surface) to rise above adjacent areas

2 : to improve the spiritual, social, or intellectual condition of

intransitive verb

: rise

—

uplifter

noun

See uplift defined for English-language learners

See uplift defined for kids

Examples of uplift in a Sentence

music that uplifts the soul
geologic forces that uplifted the mountains

Recent Examples of uplift from the Web

Both salads are uplifted by high-quality Lebanese olive oil, which especially shines in the tabbouleh.

— mark kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Dearborn's La2 Mooshi Grill melds Lebanese and Brazilian," 31 May 2018
The council member appears — and does some of the filming — in a recent video of an outdoor neighborhood men’s event in Ward 8 organized by the group Brotha’s Huddle to encourage and uplift participants.

— michelle boorstein, Washington Post, "In D.C.’s mostly black Ward 8, the Nation of Islam’s presence has faded since its heyday," 5 May 2018
But what happens when people get left out—what happens when people who have come to gather, to support, to uplift the mission and hear your gospel, are standing on the other side of the door?

— jason parham, WIRED, "Welcome to the Social Media ‘Black Power Kitchen’ of Tomorrow," 29 May 2018
There will come a point at which the show will no longer inspire or uplift or make people laugh.

— ed masley, azcentral, "Mike Nesmith reflects on the Monkees legacy, the First National Band and touring with Micky Dolenz," 23 May 2018
Therapy taught young Beyoncé about empathy, and those lessons have stayed with her throughout her life — Beyoncé is beloved for her ability to shine her spotlight on others and uplift those who don’t have her level of visibility.

— meagan fredette, refinery29.com, "Bey & Solange's Mom Sent Them To Therapy As Kids & It Worked," 12 May 2018
In a short acceptance speech, Monterrey encouraged students to be kind and uplift one another.

— darryl enriquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Photos: Monterrey named State's High School Teacher of Year," 11 May 2018
For decades now, Mahogany has fought that pain of isolation Melissa felt as a kid by providing representation and uplifting the people.

— jeneé osterheldt, kansascity, "30 years of Mahogany: Thanks, Hallmark, for understanding how Black Lives Matter | The Kansas City Star," 3 May 2018
The free program will take place at the Suffield Senior Center, 145 Bridge St. Henson rose to become a preacher and orator who used his freedom to uplift his fellow men.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Windsor Locks Edition," 8 May 2018

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

First Known Use of uplift

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

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uplift Synonyms

uplift

noun up·lift \ ˈəp-ˌlift \

1 : an act, process, result, or cause of uplifting: such as

a (1) : the uplifting of a part of the earth's surface

(2) : an uplifted mass of land

b : a bettering of a condition especially spiritually, socially, or intellectually

c (1) : influences intended to uplift

(2) : a social movement to improve especially morally or culturally

2 : a brassiere designed to hold the breasts up

See uplift defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of uplift from the Web

And the role of the Dad Fan isn't always one of uplift.

— mari uyehara, GQ, "How Title IX Gave Rise to the Dad Fan," 11 June 2018
Side-by-side with MAWLS is the DFS, or Dynamic Flow Simulator, which determines wind uplift capacities of roofing systems here in Florida.

— OrlandoSentinel.com, "University of Florida has world-class weather lab," 30 May 2018
But there’s uplift in The Boys in the Band—and not merely what will result from an actor pushing through the pain, delivering to the audience a demonstration of grit under pressure.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "Jim Parsons Is So Much More Than Sheldon," 23 May 2018
This means airflow approaching Washington will have descended the Appalachians, which tends to dry the air and suppress uplift needed to initiate storms.

— jeff halverson, Washington Post, "Severe weather may hold off until this evening in the D.C. region, but keep an eye out this afternoon," 12 May 2018
For so long, early-season games like Tuesday’s against the Kansas City Royals had offered the promise of some uplift.

— jonas shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "'I'm afraid to turn on the Orioles tonight': Bleak start tests the patience of Birds diehards," 8 May 2018
The first signs of an impending eruption started over a month ago, when the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater in Kilauea's east rift zone began experiencing uplift, indicating a growing magma chamber below.

— wes siler, Outside Online, "Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Erupts," 4 May 2018
The emptying of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō crater's lava lake, the surge in seismic activity along the East Rift Zone, and weeks of uplift around the crater all signaled that something was bubbling under the surface.

— author: sarah kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, "What’s happening inside Hawaii’s Kilauea, the world’s longest-erupting volcano," 4 May 2018
Mahogany is there to encourage, console and uplift.

— jeneé osterheldt, kansascity, "30 years of Mahogany: Thanks, Hallmark, for understanding how Black Lives Matter | The Kansas City Star," 3 May 2018

First Known Use of uplift

circa 1845

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

UPLIFT Defined for English Language Learners

uplift

verb

: to make (someone) happy or hopeful
: to lift (something) up : to raise (something) to a higher position

uplift

noun

: an increase in amount or number
: an increase in happiness or hopefulness

UPLIFT Defined for Kids

uplift

verb up·lift \ ˌəp-ˈlift \

uplifted; uplifting

1 : to lift up

2 : to make feel happy or hopeful

The music uplifted us.

uplift

noun up·lift \ ˈəp-ˌlift \

: an increase in happiness or hopefulness

Learn More about uplift

See words that rhyme with uplift Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for uplift Spanish Central: Translation of uplift Nglish: Translation of uplift for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about uplift

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Examples of uplift in a Sentence

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uplift

Recent Examples of uplift from the Web

First Known Use of uplift

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UPLIFT Defined for English Language Learners

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