LIFT Synonyms: 186 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'lift' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lift are boost , elevate , heave , hoist , raise , and rear . While all these words 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

Q: When is 'boost' a more appropriate choice than 'lift'?

The words boost and lift can be used in similar contexts, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push. // boosted his brother over the fence

Q: How does the word 'elevate' relate to other synonyms for 'lift'?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied. // elevated the taste of the public

Q: When would 'heave' be a good substitute for 'lift'?

Although the words heave and lift have much in common, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain. // heaved the heavy crate inside

Q: When is it sensible to use 'hoist' instead of 'lift'?

The meanings of hoist and lift largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means. // hoisted the cargo on board

Q: In what contexts can 'raise' take the place of 'lift'?

While in some cases nearly identical to lift , raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position. // scouts raising a flagpole

Q: How are the words 'rear' and 'raise' related as synonyms of 'lift'?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise . // suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

lift 1 of 2

verb

ˈlift

Definition of lift

as in to raise

to move from a lower to a higher place or position I needed help lifting the heavy globe back up to the top shelf

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to rise

to move or extend upward once the sun started to cut through the morning fog, the colorful hot-air balloons began to lift off from the field

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to steal

to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep she turned her back for just a moment, and somebody lifted her purse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lift

2 of 2

noun

as in assist

an act or instance of helping the company's senior vice president gave his son a much-needed lift up the corporate ladder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ride

a means of getting to a destination in a vehicle driven by another I'll need a lift to work while my car is in the shop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lift contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of lift are boost, elevate, heave, hoist, raise, and rear. While all these words 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

When is boost a more appropriate choice than lift?

The words boost and lift can be used in similar contexts, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for lift?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When would heave be a good substitute for lift?

Although the words heave and lift have much in common, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When is it sensible to use hoist instead of lift?

The meanings of hoist and lift largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

In what contexts can raise take the place of lift?

While in some cases nearly identical to lift, raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How are the words rear and raise related as synonyms of lift?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of lift

Verb

And then the spontaneous cheers and shouts erupted as the aircraft, full of returning troops, lifted off the South Vietnam air strip. — Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026 Adapting to the shock of higher prices meant that Crippen, who was hauling merchandise for online retailer Amazon, pushes the limits on the federal rules regarding driving time to increase time behind the wheel and lift earnings. — Kris B. Mamula, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026

Noun

There is room for an elevator and the oversized garage has room for a car lift. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026 Stoke Space is well along in construction of its first launch pad at Cape Canaveral for its reusable medium-lift Nova rocket. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lift

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lift

Verb

Andy’s view The prospect of steep losses for Republicans in today’s midterms and the lame-duck presidency that ensues regardless raise a fundamental question about the outlook for a budding US-China détente.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
In one video, Basabe appears to raise his voice at a man before turning around and shouting at a woman.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

As the second most expensive housing market in Southern California, USC expects Ventura County's average rent to rise even more, from $2,675 to $2,849 by 2029.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
Democrats captured seven Senate seats nationally, a number that could rise to nine with two races yet to be called.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of rise

Verb

Police also received one unconfirmed report that a Honda SUV was stolen using an OBD-2 port scanner, which involves plugging a device in under the dashboard and duplicating the key fob.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 Nov. 2026
In all sorts of ways, from the character of Baum’s music to the show-stealing sassy sidekicks, Wanted is channeling the Mouse House during its second golden age of animation, the era of Simba, Aladdin, and the muses of Hercules.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of steal

Noun

Doncic, of course, was at the center of it all, scoring 40 points to go with nine rebounds, seven assists and six turnovers.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Four Horned Frogs finished in double figures including Jadyn Wooten (10 points, eight assists) and Camille Williams (12 points).

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of assist

Noun

Waymo operates commercially in 15 US cities, but has faced opposition from labor unions, ride-hailing giants such as Uber and Lyft, and various AI-skeptical groups and pedestrian safety advocates.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
People at the scene told Smith the cyclists were part of a group that regularly gathers for weekend bike rides.

— News Editor, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of ride

Verb

The victory denies Abbott a fourth term and elevates an Austin state representative who built her campaign around public education, household costs and criticism of the state's Republican leadership.

— Blaise Gainey, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
The election also elevates a number of state and gubernatorial candidates who made stricter regulation of data centers a key part of their campaigns.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of elevate

Verb

Moments later, the crew reported precipitation and asked to climb to 37,000 feet, and the controller approved.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Bishop Moore has climbed the state ranking ladder and is the top seed in 4A with by far the strongest strength of schedule for that class.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of climb

Verb

In post-mortem reviews of the midterm elections in which Democrats swiped control of both chambers of Congress, several GOP leaders pinpointed the blame on the Iran war, including Vice President JD Vance.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2026
At the same time, opportunistic politicians and their allies took to swiping cash from the collection plate.

— Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of swipe

Browse Nearby Words

lifeworks

lift

lifted

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lift. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of lift

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on lift

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gauntlet

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes