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

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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

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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

In a perfect world, women are helping each other and lifting each other up. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 Warmer water and long-term sea level rise have already lifted sea levels along the coast, and big swells from distant storms are damaging shorelines. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

Take Carter Contracting Services (registration required), for instance, a specialist heavy-lift and abnormal-load transport business supporting major infrastructure, energy and electrical grid network projects. — Sophie Attwood, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026 For now, there’s an orange scissor lift where the golf simulator will be. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lift

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lift

Verb

Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions of federal and state law raised by the case.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Boat trips to Capri and Positano are on the doorstep, as are hair-raising Vespa tours on hairpin roads and private visits to Pompei and Herculaneum.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

Inflation in India has been rising for 10 straight months, while economic growth has remained strong despite external challenges.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Regulatory concerns began to rise, with growing uncertainty that Netflix would be able to close its deal in short order.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of rise

Verb

And the other film is about a Jordanian farmer and the water loss in Jordan, because there’s a whole political situation going on with water being stolen by Israel.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who is stationed at Futenma Air Station, on suspicion of strangling Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in the island's capital city, Naha, early Saturday and stealing her wallet and backpack.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of steal

Noun

Antetokounmpo totaled 14 points, three rebounds, five assists and one block in the first half of the scrimmage.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Adaptive cruise control, speed-limit assist, lane-keeping assistance and steering assistance are all standard on the new 3 Series.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of assist

Verb

Analysts anticipate that gold prices will remain constrained in the short term by a strong US dollar and elevated US Treasury yields.

— , CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
While the property’s extensive and expensive renovation has elevated nearly every corner of the resort, the room doors appear to have been overlooked.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of elevate

Verb

But as stock prices climb and bond yields increase, that relative advantage is diminishing, leaving less room for equities to absorb higher rates.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
London — Oil prices climbed Thursday on continued worries about global supply following a record number of tanker attacks that sent crossings through the Strait of Hormuz to a two-month low.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of climb

Verb

Instagram Stories remain at the top of the feed, per screenshots from Oncescu, while swiping the screen pulls up the traditional feed of posts from accounts a user follows.

— Mia Sato, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
Billed as an immersive matchmaking experience and a new take on the dating show, the format features singletons who are tired of swiping and first dates and are ready to get hitched.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of swipe

Browse Nearby Words

lifeworks

lift

lifted

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Lift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lift. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lift

verb

noun

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