verb
lift
lihft
verb
1
To raise something to a higher position.
"He lifted the box onto the top shelf."
"She lifted her arms above her head to stretch."
2
To remove or cancel a restriction, ban, or rule.
"The government lifted the travel ban in June."
3
To steal something, especially casually or without much effort.
"Someone lifted his wallet on the crowded train."
noun
1
British English word for an elevator: a device for carrying people or goods between floors.
"We took the lift to the tenth floor."
2
A free ride in someone else's vehicle.
"Can you give me a lift to the station?"
3
A boost in mood, energy, or morale.
"The good news gave everyone a real lift."
How to Use Lift
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo raise something up, or (as a noun) a ride, an elevator, or a boost in mood.
UK vs US
In British English "lift" means elevator; American English uses "elevator" instead.
Common pairings
lift a ban
give someone a lift
a lift in spirits
Word Forms
lifted past tense, lift past tense, yleft past tense, lifts plural, lifts plural, lifts singular
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He _____ the box onto the top shelf.
Etymology
From Old Norse lypta ("to raise into the air"), related to the Germanic root for "air" — a "lift" was originally a raising into the sky.