uplift

1 of 2

verb

up·​lift (ˌ)əp-ˈlift How to pronounce uplift (audio)
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
uplifter noun

uplift

2 of 2

noun

up·​lift ˈəp-ˌlift How to pronounce uplift (audio)
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

Examples of uplift in a Sentence

Verb music that uplifts the soul geologic forces that uplifted the mountains
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 18 Oct. 2025 Here, Fairchild Studio catches up with Brink about women uplifting each other, her resilience in overcoming mental and physical challenges throughout her career thus far, her time at the NBA Paris Games and more. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
Tailored for hyperscale data centers, cloud providers, and telcos, Xeon 6+ features up to 288 E-cores and a 17% uplift in Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) over the prior generation. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025 Early results from coffeehouse uplifts show customers visiting more often, staying longer and sharing positive feedback. Kate Rogers,amelia Lucas, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uplift

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Uplift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uplift. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

uplift

1 of 2 verb
up·​lift (ˌ)əp-ˈlift How to pronounce uplift (audio)
1
: to lift up : elevate
2
: to improve the spiritual, mental, or social condition of

uplift

2 of 2 noun
up·​lift ˈəp-ˌlift How to pronounce uplift (audio)
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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