up·lift
(ˌ)əp-ˈlift 
uplifted; uplifting; uplifts
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
uplifter
noun
1
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
Synonyms
Examples of uplift in a Sentence
Verb
music that uplifts the soul
geologic forces that uplifted the mountains
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexis P. Williams, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
Kendrick’s senior season is his chance to stake his claim in Joppatowne lore uplifted by a drought-ending college commitment on the horizon.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2023
The band, who recently launched a social impact initiative, was inspired to uplift the Uvalde and San Antonio communities by donating a portion of the proceeds from their Texas shows to The Maite Yuleana Rodriguez scholarship offered by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
—Hannah Prince, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2023
This energizing strain is known for its ability to uplift mood and promote a sense of well-being, potentially helping individuals combat anxiety.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 7 Keep Flowers Fresh
Nothing uplifts a room like a vase of fresh flowers!
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 31 Aug. 2023
Riding the wave of TikTok influence, she's used the power of social media to connect, resonate, and uplift with her music.
—Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2023
The young depth is another unique trait of this year’s team, uplifting their championship expectations.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2023
Two dollars from every ticket sold will go to the Cactus Jack Foundation, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to uplift Houston youth through toy drives, scholarships for HBCU college students and fulfilling expenses for education and creative endeavors.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 30 Aug. 2023
Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 1 Sep. 2023
What the filmmaker, along with his co-writer Carolina Cavalli, never forces her to do is adapt or assimilate in a way that seems convenient to easy-peasy uplift, or even closure.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2023
Unlike many labor leaders of his era, Debs argued for the admission of Black people and women into his railway union, and cared more about racial uplift than other white socialists.
—Ross Barkan, The New Republic, 3 Aug. 2023
During the quarter, generalist streaming service Youku’s total subscription revenue grew by 5% year-over-year, primarily driven by increasing average revenue per user and the uplift that came from successful new content.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Aug. 2023
People are, however, interested in and drawn to wealth, view it as a signifier of wisdom, and are perhaps a little less interested in the communal uplift that’s at the core of Jackson’s life’s work, Perry says.
—Janell Ross, Time, 18 July 2023
Officials are after the excess net interest income generated in 2022 and 2023 relative to 2021, resulting from banks raising lending costs in lockstep with central-bank policy, while refusing to reward deposit holders with a similar uplift in interest rates.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2023
The show was planned a few years ago, but the summer of 2023 – so far the hottest on record – provides a serendipitously apocalyptic backdrop for an exhibition all but devoid of uplift, for the planet or anything else.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2023
On top of that, an area to the east of Sabatini has been experiencing uplift for at least the past 125,000 years.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023
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Verb
Britain has a very big problem with supporting and uplifting its Black British talent.
—Alexis P. Williams, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
Kendrick’s senior season is his chance to stake his claim in Joppatowne lore uplifted by a drought-ending college commitment on the horizon.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2023
The band, who recently launched a social impact initiative, was inspired to uplift the Uvalde and San Antonio communities by donating a portion of the proceeds from their Texas shows to The Maite Yuleana Rodriguez scholarship offered by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
—Hannah Prince, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2023
This energizing strain is known for its ability to uplift mood and promote a sense of well-being, potentially helping individuals combat anxiety.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 7 Keep Flowers Fresh
Nothing uplifts a room like a vase of fresh flowers!
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 31 Aug. 2023
Riding the wave of TikTok influence, she's used the power of social media to connect, resonate, and uplift with her music.
—Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2023
The young depth is another unique trait of this year’s team, uplifting their championship expectations.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2023
Two dollars from every ticket sold will go to the Cactus Jack Foundation, a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to uplift Houston youth through toy drives, scholarships for HBCU college students and fulfilling expenses for education and creative endeavors.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 30 Aug. 2023
Noun
According to the study, the central uplift and associated angular rock have all been eroded.
—Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 1 Sep. 2023
What the filmmaker, along with his co-writer Carolina Cavalli, never forces her to do is adapt or assimilate in a way that seems convenient to easy-peasy uplift, or even closure.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2023
Unlike many labor leaders of his era, Debs argued for the admission of Black people and women into his railway union, and cared more about racial uplift than other white socialists.
—Ross Barkan, The New Republic, 3 Aug. 2023
During the quarter, generalist streaming service Youku’s total subscription revenue grew by 5% year-over-year, primarily driven by increasing average revenue per user and the uplift that came from successful new content.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 10 Aug. 2023
People are, however, interested in and drawn to wealth, view it as a signifier of wisdom, and are perhaps a little less interested in the communal uplift that’s at the core of Jackson’s life’s work, Perry says.
—Janell Ross, Time, 18 July 2023
Officials are after the excess net interest income generated in 2022 and 2023 relative to 2021, resulting from banks raising lending costs in lockstep with central-bank policy, while refusing to reward deposit holders with a similar uplift in interest rates.
—Jon Sindreu, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2023
The show was planned a few years ago, but the summer of 2023 – so far the hottest on record – provides a serendipitously apocalyptic backdrop for an exhibition all but devoid of uplift, for the planet or anything else.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2023
On top of that, an area to the east of Sabatini has been experiencing uplift for at least the past 125,000 years.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uplift.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
circa 1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of uplift was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near uplift
Cite this Entry
“Uplift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uplift. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
uplift
1 of 2 verb
up·lift
(ˌ)əp-ˈlift
1
: to lift up : elevate
2
: to improve the spiritual, mental, or social condition of
uplift
2 of 2 noun
up·lift
ˈəp-ˌlift
1
: an act, process, or result of uplifting
especially
: the uplifting of a part of the earth's surface
2
: moral or social improvement or a movement to make such improvement
More from Merriam-Webster on uplift
Nglish: Translation of uplift for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about uplift
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