CRANING Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

craning

verb

present participle of crane

as in lifting

to move from a lower to a higher place or position craned her head to see the roof

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 craning Most of the attendees crammed along the fences, craning their necks and holding their phones aloft on their tiptoes. — Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 One of my first memories of any kind is sitting on my parents’ bedroom floor, craning my neck to watch the ’91 World Series on the old TV atop their dresser. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 22 July 2026 Giraffes are some of the most recognizable creatures on earth, with their towering height and craning long necks. — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 18 July 2026 Everyone knew the story, though Andrew’s relatives were more reluctant to speak of it, to even mention the cult’s name — Synanon — craning their necks to see if any members of her family were close enough to overhear their speculations. — Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 In a video shared on X, Hargitay could be seen craning her head while trying to look around a referee. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 11 June 2026 Beyond the glass, across a small rocky strip of water, the zoo’s eldest giraffe is craning his impossibly long, elegant neck up to a hanging basket of foliage and methodically stripping the branches of their bark. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 11 May 2026 Joshua appeared as surprised as any of us, craning around as if the words had been blurted by someone on the periphery. — Chang-Rae Lee, New Yorker, 3 May 2026 This flexible holder attaches easily to your seatback tray table and adjusts to multiple angles, allowing for hands-free viewing without craning your neck. — Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for craning

Verb

Higher oil prices have largely offset lower export volumes, lifting revenue above prewar estimates, but spending is set to rise faster.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026
In May 2020, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts reached the orbiting lab just 3 hours and 3 minutes after lifting off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of lifting

Verb

In bidding to halt Howard's execution, his attorneys had filed a motion hours earlier before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals raising concerns about the quality of Texas' execution drugs.

— JAMIE STENGLE, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Governments are borrowing heavily to finance fiscal deficits, while companies are raising funds to invest in emerging technologies, creating an imbalance that could keep upward pressure on interest rates.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of raising

Verb

And the entirety of Valkyries’ culture invested in hoisting her on their pedestal.

— Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
The Coast Guard released video footage earlier this week showing rescue swimmers saving people from the choppy water and hoisting them into helicopters hovering above.

— David Goodhue October 2, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of hoisting

Verb

The golf course would be ripped up and rebuilt, including elevating the playing area by several feet to protect against surge flooding.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Seeking new crypto money, Christie’s and Sotheby’s cut all other legitimizing actors out of the loop with NFTs, elevating what might previously have been categorized as illustration, graphic art, or a social media meme to the status of fine art.

— Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of elevating

Browse Nearby Words

cranes

craning

cranium

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“Craning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/craning. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of craning

verb

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