lift
lihft
Lift (verb) means to raise something to a higher position. Example: “He lifted the box onto the top shelf.”
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."
"Please lift your feet so I can sweep underneath the table."
2
To remove or cancel a restriction, ban, or rule.
"The government lifted the travel ban in June."
"The council will lift the parking rules on Sundays during the festival."
"Officials plan to lift the water restrictions once the reservoirs are full again."
3
To steal something, especially casually or without much effort.
"Someone lifted his wallet on the crowded train."
"The pickpocket managed to lift a phone from my coat in seconds."
"Someone had lifted a few sweets from the shop without paying."
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."
"The lift is out of order, so we have to use the stairs."
"Press the button and wait for the lift to arrive."
2
A free ride in someone else's vehicle.
"Can you give me a lift to the station?"
"A kind neighbour gave us a lift home after the match."
"I missed the last bus, so I asked my brother for a lift."
3
A boost in mood, energy, or morale.
"The good news gave everyone a real lift."
"A kind message from a friend gave me a lift on a gloomy day."
"The sunny weather was a welcome lift for the whole team."
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
lift a ban
give someone a lift
a lift in spirits
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like lift.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- lifts
- Third person singular
- lifts
- Past tense
- lifted, yleft
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for lift
See all rhymes for lift →Frequently asked questions
What does “lift” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “lift”?
“Lift” is pronounced lihft (/lɪft/ in IPA).
How do you use “lift” in a sentence?
Here is “lift” used in a sentence: “He lifted the box onto the top shelf.”
What part of speech is “lift”?
Depending on how it is used, “lift” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “lift” come from?
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.
Is “lift” a common word?
“Lift” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “lift” have?
“Lift” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to raise something to a higher position.
What is the difference between 'lift' and 'raise'?
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.
Can 'lift' mean to cancel or remove?
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.
What is the opposite of 'lift'?
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include lift:
