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

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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

Tuesday looks like the wettest day of the week as the front briefly lifts north, bringing widespread rain chances while temperatures remain stuck in the 60s. — Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026 Wells Fargo lifted its price target on the company's stock to $796, according to multiple reports. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026

Noun

Bag charms are up 300 percent for plastic styles and 290 percent for beaded ones this season, and that same instinct carries through to charm bracelets, which see a reliable seasonal lift every year from September through December. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 But 20 years later, with the rise of SpaceX and a host of new startups building medium-lift and large rockets, the time of ULA’s dominance is long past. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lift

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lift

Verb

Behind the scenes, former Pentagon officials described a rush to strike the deals that raised concerns about due diligence, which were heightened when a deal with rare earths startup Reelement faltered.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
The ban has already raised questions on how the news media and the public will be able to monitor the president’s activities.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

The vapors that had risen from warm bodies in the pews would have carried syllables mixed with candle-soot, distilled as condensation on the chapel windows.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Amazon has set a goal to be net-zero carbon by 2040, but Hurst said the firm will likely see emissions rise in the near term as the data center buildout heats up.

— Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of rise

Verb

Film and television are some of the most important exports of the country, and everybody’s stealing production from us.

— Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Ruggedization protects your drive from the elements, while encryption guards your data should your SSD or HDD be lost or stolen.

— George Yang, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of steal

Noun

Chelsea Gray scored 17 points of for the Aces, Stephanie Talbot had 14 points and Jackie Young totaled 14 points and 11 assists.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Higuaín scored 59 goals, had 51 assists and made 210 appearances for the Crew in his lengthy professional career as a player and is the brother of former Real Madrid, Napoli and Argentina star Gonzalo Higuaín.

— Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of assist

Verb

Go Green tours allow passengers to learn the ways local communities and industries endeavor to conserve, sustain, and elevate their environments.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Those themes may not dominate her lyrical approach, but their presence provides a headier energy that grounds the album and elevates it a few steps above merely a consistent Afropop LP.

— Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of elevate

Verb

Stocks have slowed their rally since the S&P 500 climbed to the brink of its all-time high earlier this week as pressure from the bond market has cranked higher.

— Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
After reading the script, watching the documentary, and meeting Peedom, Hiddleston signed up for the project, which led him to climb to Everest’s base camp alongside the director, Phuntsok, and a high-altitude medical specialist.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of climb

Browse Nearby Words

lifeworks

lift

lifted

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Cite this Entry

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“Lift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lift. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lift

verb

noun

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