lift

The word “lift” means to raise something to a higher position. In plain terms, to raise something up, or (as a noun) a ride, an elevator, or a boost in mood.

“Lift” is pronounced lihft (/lɪft/ in IPA).

Here is “lift” used in a sentence: “He lifted the box onto the top shelf.”

Depending on how it is used, “lift” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “lift” comes from Old Norse. 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.

“Lift” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Lift” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to raise something to a higher position.

The two are close, and often interchangeable. 'Lift' tends to stress physically taking something up off a surface, like lift a box or lift a child. 'Raise' is broader and more abstract, working where 'lift' would sound odd: raise prices, raise a question, raise your hand. For sheer physical effort, 'lift' feels more natural.

Yes. To 'lift' a ban, a restriction, a curfew, or a sanction means to remove it, as if raising a weight off people. This figurative sense is very common in news and law. A related emotional use is 'lift someone's spirits,' meaning to make them feel lighter and more cheerful.

The main opposites are 'lower' and 'drop.' To lower something is to move it carefully to a lower position, the controlled reverse of lifting. To 'drop' it is to let it fall. 'Put down' and 'set down' also work when you simply place a lifted object back onto a surface.