1
as in raising
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rising
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
3
as in stealing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lifting
In exchange for lifting restrictions, China has agreed to reduce tariffs on Canadian canola oil, one of Canada’s top agricultural exports.
—
Robert Ferris, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Prolonged moisture exposure can weaken the adhesive, leading to edges curling and tiles shifting or lifting entirely.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration briefly and mysteriously grounded flights around El Paso, Texas, late Tuesday, before lifting the ban early today.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
An attorney representing AirBnb testified in favor of lifting restrictions, too.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Hudson’s look followed that logic in a literal way, lifting a runway outfit into a daytime awards season stop without reworking the styling.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Don't forget to apply a volumizing root-lifting powder and slightly bump up hair at the crown for a fuller-looking mane.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
The drawdown uncaps the springs by lifting the weight of the reservoir off them.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 9 Feb. 2026
Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japan’s offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports and moving further away from the country’s postwar pacifist principles.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Robert Ferris, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Prolonged moisture exposure can weaken the adhesive, leading to edges curling and tiles shifting or lifting entirely.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration briefly and mysteriously grounded flights around El Paso, Texas, late Tuesday, before lifting the ban early today.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
An attorney representing AirBnb testified in favor of lifting restrictions, too.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Hudson’s look followed that logic in a literal way, lifting a runway outfit into a daytime awards season stop without reworking the styling.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Don't forget to apply a volumizing root-lifting powder and slightly bump up hair at the crown for a fuller-looking mane.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
The drawdown uncaps the springs by lifting the weight of the reservoir off them.
—David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union, 9 Feb. 2026
Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japan’s offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports and moving further away from the country’s postwar pacifist principles.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lifting
Verb
-
The agent is seen raising the pepper spray can, pointing it towards the crowd in what looked to be an attempt to keep them at a distance.—
Gio Insignares,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
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In an email to The Times, Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said the governor had a strong record of fighting for workers’ rights, including raising the minimum wage and expanding sick leave and other worker protections.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For example, rising temperatures have direct harms on health by increasing risk of dehydration and causing more stress on the heart.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Now firmly established as both a premier service destination and a rising industry hub, Morocco is looking outward, fielding major delegations at platforms such as Venice Production Bridge and this year’s EFM to connect a new generation of filmmakers directly to the global market.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Early childhood advocates were delighted when he was sworn into office seven years ago, his arms around his scene-stealing 2-year-old son.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
According to preliminary reports, the suspects threatened them with a firearm and held them for several minutes while stealing valuables.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Other staff at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission proposed elevating the Boarmans’ case to the agency’s administrative law court to further evaluate the cause of the pollution and pursue potential enforcement.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
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The Chens aren’t the only ones elevating Chinese cuisine.—
Terry Tang,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But with no set end date, some workers stay for years, climbing the ranks.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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The stock bounced back some last year, climbing 19%, and is now up 6% in 2026.—
Kristina Partsinevelos,Ari Levy,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 2020, just prior to the onset of the pandemic, ESPN had designs on swiping Romo from CBS with a $15 million per year contract.—
Andrew Marchand,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
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Home security camera footage captured a suspect wearing black clothing and glasses swiping the bear off the front porch of the Lakeshore Drive home.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s where patriarch Mychal Thompson, the former Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers center, remembered watching his then-8-year-old son, Klay, hoisting shot after shot from the center of his chest, splashing each one through the net.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The two teams faced off against each other 11 years ago during Super Bowl 49, with the Patriots hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the night.—
Sarah Whitten,Sara Salinas,Sarah Jackson,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Despite our diversity, each of us spent many years in private practice before the Arkansas courts before ascending to service on the state's highest court.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
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Murray is ascending into the same airspace as English and Issel and the other Nuggets greats.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lifting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lifting. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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