Oxford Essential Dictionary
verb (lifts, lifting, lifted)
to move somebody or something to a higher position:
I can't lift this box. It's too heavy.
Lift your arm up.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
lift
I. lift1 S2 W2 /lɪft/ BrE AmE verb
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: lypta]
1. MOVE SOMETHING UPWARDS (also lift up) [transitive] to move something or someone upwards into the air:
Sophie lifted the phone before the second ring.
He lifted the lid on the pot of soup.
The lumber was lifted by crane and dropped into the truck.
lift somebody/something onto/into/out of etc something
They lifted Andrew onto the bed.
lift somebody from something
The driver was lifted from the wreck.
2. PART OF THE BODY (also lift up) [intransitive and transitive] to move part of your body up to a higher position SYN raise
lift your hand/arm/leg etc
She lifted her hand to knock on the door once again.
Pam lifted her shoulders in a little shrug.
lift your head/eyes (=move your head or eyes up so that you can look at something)
She lifted her head to gaze at him.
He heard a scream and the hairs on the back of his neck began to lift.
3. CONTROLS/LAWS [transitive] to remove a rule or a law that says that something is not allowed
lift a restriction/an embargo/sanctions etc
The government plans to lift its ban on cigar imports.
4. BY PLANE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to take people or things to or from a place by aircraft:
More troops are being lifted into the area as the fighting spreads.
5. not lift a finger (to do something) informal to do nothing to help:
He never lifted a finger to help me with the kids.
6. lift sb’s spirits to make someone feel more cheerful and hopeful
7. CLOUDS/MIST [intransitive] if cloud or mist lifts, it disappears
8. SAD FEELINGS [intransitive] if feelings of sadness lift, they disappear:
Jan’s depression seemed to be lifting at last.
9. USE SB’S IDEAS/WORDS [transitive] to take words, ideas etc from someone else’s work and use them in your work, without stating where they came from and as if they were your own words etc
lift something from somebody/something
The words were lifted from an article in a medical journal.
10. STEAL [transitive] informal to steal something
lift something from somebody/something
They had lifted dozens of CDs from the store.
11. VOICE (also lift up) [transitive] literary if you lift your voice, you speak, shout, or sing more loudly SYN raise
12. INCREASE [transitive] to make prices, profit etc increase:
The U.S. may use tax cuts to lift the economy.
13. VEGETABLES [transitive] to dig up vegetables that grow under the ground:
She was lifting potatoes.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ lift (up) to move something or someone upwards to a higher position, especially something heavy, either by using your hands or a machine: You shouldn’t lift anything heavy if you have a bad back. | She lifted the lid from a huge pot and took a sniff. | They lifted me onto a stretcher and took me to the ambulance. | He lifted the girl up onto his knee. | They used a crane to lift the carriages back onto the rails. | The massive bull lifted him bodily into the air and shook him repeatedly.
▪ raise to lift something to a higher position for a short time before lowering it again. Raise is more formal than lift: The bridge can be raised to allow ships to pass under it. | ‘Cheers, everyone!’ said Larry, raising his glass.
▪ pick up to lift something up from the ground, from a table etc, especially something small or light: She picked up her bag and left the room. | Tom picked the papers up off the floor. | Why don’t you just pick up the phone and call him? | Maurin picked up the gun and put it in his pocket. | The lioness picked her cub up by its neck. | There are papers all over the floor – could you pick them up and put them away? | The little girl’s mother laughed and bent down to pick her up. | The vacuum cleaner won’t pick this stuff up.
▪ scoop up to lift someone or something quickly from the ground, from a table etc, using your hand or arm: She bent down and scooped up the little dog.
▪ hoist to lift up something which is heavy and difficult to carry: Joe picked up the sack and hoisted it onto the truck. | The crowd hoisted him onto their shoulders and carried him triumphantly down the main street.
▪ elevate technical to lift something to a higher position and keep it there: The doctor advised me to rest and elevate my ankle.
▪ put your hand up to lift your arm into the air, for example because you want to speak in a class or when voting: Put your hand up if you know the answer.
lift off phrasal verb
if an aircraft or spacecraft lifts off, it leaves the ground and rises into the air
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
lift
lift [lift lifts lifted lifting] verb, noun [lɪft] [lɪft]
verb
RAISE
1. transitive, intransitive to raise sb/sth or be raised to a higher position or level
• ~ sb/sth (up) (+ adv./prep.) He stood there with his arms lifted above his head.
• I lifted the lid of the box and peered in.
• (figurative) John lifted his eyes (= looked up) from his book.
• ~ (up) Her eyebrows lifted. ‘Apologize? Why?’
MOVE SB/STH
2. transitive ~ sb/sth (+ adv./prep.) to take hold of sb/sth and move them/it to a different position
• I lifted the baby out of the chair.
• He lifted the suitcase down from the rack.
3. transitive ~ sb/sth (+ adv./prep.) to transport people or things by air
• The survivors were lifted to safety by helicopter.
see also airlift
REMOVE LAW/RULE
4. transitive ~ sth to remove or end restrictions
• to lift a ban/curfew/blockade
• Martial law has now been lifted.
HEART/SPIRITS
5. intransitive, transitive to become or make sb more cheerful
• His heart lifted at the sight of her.
• ~ sth The news lifted our spirits.
OF MIST/CLOUDS
6. intransitive to rise and disappear
Syn: disperse
• The fog began to lift.
• (figurative) Gradually my depression started to lift.
STEAL
7. transitive ~ sth (from sb/sth) (informal) to steal sth
• He had been lifting electrical goods from the store where he worked.
see also shoplift
COPY IDEAS/WORDS
8. transitive ~ sth (from sth) to use sb's ideas or words without asking permission or without saying where they come from
Syn: plagiarize
• She lifted most of the ideas from a book she had been reading.
VEGETABLES
9. transitive ~ sth to dig up vegetables or plants from the ground
• to lift potatoes
INCREASE
10. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to make the amount or level of sth greater; to become greater in amount or level
• Interest rates were lifted yesterday.
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse lypta, of Germanic origin; related to loft.
Thesaurus:
lift verb T, I (usually used with an adverb or preposition)
• The suitcase was so heavy I could hardly lift it.
pick sb/sth up • • hoist • • scoop • • heave • |especially written raise •
Opp: put sb/sth down
lift/pick/hoist/scoop/raise sb/sth up
lift/pick up/hoise/heave a bag/basket
lift/pick up/hoist/scoop a child/girl/boy
lift/raise your hand/arm/head/chin/face/eyes/eyebrows
Lift, pick sb/sth up or raise? Lift can mean to move sb/sth in a particular direction, not just upwards; pick sb/sth is usually used about sb/sth that is not very heavy and is only used for upwards movement; raise is used especially about parts of the body
• He lifted the suitcase down from the rack.
• He picked up the phone and dialled the number.
• She raised her eyebrows.
Example Bank:
• Carefully lift the cake off the tray and cool on a wire rack.
• He felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
• He hugged her, almost lifting her off the ground.
• He lifted the baby out of its cot.
• Her head lifted sharply
• Juliet nodded, lifting her face to David's.
• She leaned on him and he half lifted her down the stairs.
• She lifted back the sheet.
• She lifted the book up off the table.
• She lifted the child over the fence.
• She was lifted bodily aboard by two sailors.
• The box was so heavy I could barely lift it.
• The fog suddenly lifted.
• The government decided to lift the ban on arms exports.
• The heavy beams were lifted into place.
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.
• The redevelopment along the river should help lift property prices in the area.
• lines lifted from a famous poem
• to lift a ban/curfew/blockade
• John lifted his eyes from his book.
• to lift sth up/down/into sth/from sth
Idiom: not lift a hand
Derived: lift off
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
lift / lɪft / verb (RAISE)
B1 [ T ] to move something from a lower to a higher position:
Could you help me lift this table, please?
Could you lift your chair a bit - I've got my bag caught under it.
She lifted the cigarette (up) to her lips.
He lifted his eyes (= looked up) from the paper and glared.
lift a/the cup to win a race or competition in which the prize is a metal cup:
He is the hot favourite to lift the cup again next month.
[ T ] specialized to dig underground vegetables or plants out of the ground:
They're lifting potatoes.
lift / lɪft / verb [ I or T , usually + adv/prep ] (TAKE HOLD)
to take hold of and raise something in order to remove, carry, or move it to a different position:
She lifted the baby out of her chair.
He lifted the box carefully down from the shelf.
lift / lɪft / verb [ T ] literary (MAKE LOUD)
to make your voice louder, especially when performing
lift / lɪft / verb [ T ] informal (MAKE INTERESTING)
to make something more interesting or enjoyable:
The article is informative enough, but it's a bit dull - we need something to lift it.
lift / lɪft / verb (MAKE HAPPY)
lift sb's spirits informal to make someone happier:
Nothing - not even the prospect of dinner - could lift his spirits.
lift / lɪft / verb [ I ] (GO AWAY)
(of mist or fog) to go away until none is left:
The morning mist had lifted and the sun was starting to come through.
lift / lɪft / verb [ T ] (END)
to end a rule or law:
The restrictions on water usage have been lifted now that the river levels are normal.
At last they've lifted the ban on jeans at the club.
lift / lɪft / verb (STEAL)
[ T ] informal to steal something [ T ] informal to use someone else's writing, music, or idea, pretending that it is your own:
He'd lifted whole passages from a website.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
lift
[lɪ̱ft]
♦♦
lifts, lifting, lifted
1) VERB If you lift something, you move it to another position, especially upwards.
[V n] The Colonel lifted the phone and dialed his superior...
[V n prep/adv] She lifted the last of her drink to her lips.
PHRASAL VERB
Lift up means the same as lift. V n P She put her arms around him and lifted him up... V P n (not pron) Curious shoppers lifted up their children to take a closer look at the parade.
2) VERB If you lift a part of your body, you move it to a higher position.
[V n] Amy lifted her arm to wave. `Goodbye,' she called...
[V n] She lifted her foot and squashed the wasp into the ground.
Syn:
raise
PHRASAL VERB
Lift up means the same as lift. V n P Tom took his seat again and lifted his feet up on to the railing... V P n (not pron) The boys lifted up their legs, indicating they wanted to climb in.
3) VERB If you lift your eyes or your head, you look up, for example when you have been reading and someone comes into the room.
[V n] When he finished he lifted his eyes and looked out the window.
Syn:
raise
4) VERB If people in authority lift a law or rule that prevents people from doing something, they end it.
[V n] The European Commission has urged France to lift its ban on imports of British beef.
5) V-ERG If something lifts your spirits or your mood, or if they lift, you start feeling more cheerful.
[V n] He used his incredible sense of humour to lift my spirits...
[V n] A brisk walk in the fresh air can lift your mood and dissolve a winter depression...
As soon as she heard the telephone ring her spirits lifted.
6) N-SING: usu a N If something gives you a lift, it gives you a feeling of greater confidence, energy, or enthusiasm. [INFORMAL]
My selection for the team has given me a tremendous lift.
Syn:
boost
7) N-COUNT A lift is a device that carries people or goods up and down inside tall buildings. [BRIT]
They took the lift to the fourth floor.(in AM, use elevator)
8) N-COUNT If you give someone a lift somewhere, you take them there in your car as a favour to them.
He had a car and often gave me a lift home.
Syn:
ride
9) VERB If a government or organization lifts people or goods in or out of an area, it transports them there by aircraft, especially when there is a war.
[V n prep/adv] The army lifted people off rooftops where they had climbed to escape the flooding...
[V n prep/adv] The helicopters are designed to quickly lift soldiers and equipment to the battlefield.
Syn:
fly
10) VERB To lift something means to increase its amount or to increase the level or the rate at which it happens.
[V n to/from/by amount] The bank lifted its basic home loans rate to 10.99% from 10.75%...
[V n] A barrage would halt the flow upstream and lift the water level.
Syn:
increase
11) VERB If fog, cloud, or mist lifts, it reduces, for example by moving upwards or by becoming less thick.
The fog had lifted and revealed a warm, sunny day.
12) VERB If you lift root vegetables or bulbs, you dig them out of the ground.
[V n] Lift carrots on a dry day and pack them horizontally in boxes of damp sand.
Syn:
dig up
13) to lift a finger → see finger
Phrasal Verbs:
- lift off
- lift up
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1lift /ˈlɪft/ verb lifts; lift·ed; lift·ing
1 a [+ obj] : to move (something or someone) to a higher position : raise
• The paramedics lifted the stretcher into the ambulance.
• lift a bucket of water
• He lifted his foot from/off the gas pedal.
• He lifted his pen from the paper.
• She lifted her hands to the sky.
• She lifted the child (up) onto her lap.
• He lifted his head (up) and looked at us.
• She lifted (up) the lid of the box.
b [no obj] : to rise up from the ground or some other surface
• The balloon lifted [=rose] into the sky.
2 [+ obj] : to move (someone or something) to a higher condition or position
• The story lifted him to national recognition.
• lifting people from poverty
3
✦If your spirits lift or your mood lifts or if something lifts your spirits/mood, you become happier or less sad.
• The beauty of the sunrise lifted her spirits. = Her spirits lifted when she saw the beauty of the sunrise.
4
✦When a weight/load/burden has been lifted from your shoulders/back, you are able to stop worrying about some large problem or responsibility.
• After I finally told my mother about my concerns, I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. [=I felt very relieved]
5 [+ obj] : to increase the amount of (something)
• The company has been trying to improve the quality of its products without lifting [=(more commonly) raising] prices.
6 [+ obj] : to make (your voice) louder
• He barely lifted [=raised] his voice above a whisper.
• The preacher told them to lift (up) their voices and sing.
7 [+ obj] informal
a : to take (an idea, plan, etc.) from another source often in a way that is wrong
• The plot of the movie was lifted [=taken] from real life.
• an idea lifted from another novel
b : to steal (something)
• Somebody lifted her purse when she wasn't looking.
c : to take (something) out of a normal position or setting
• lift a word out of context
8 [+ obj] : to stop or remove (something, such as a rule that prevents people from doing something) often for only a short time
• lift a blockade
• The city has temporarily lifted its ban on smoking in bars.
9 [no obj] of fog, clouds, or smoke : to move up and disappear so that it is possible to see
• You can see the mountains when the clouds lift.
• We were shocked by what we saw when the fog/smoke finally lifted. [=cleared]
10 [+ obj] : to move (someone or something) from one place to another in an aircraft : airlift
• troops being lifted into enemy territory
• supplies being lifted to remote areas
lift a finger
- see 1finger
lift down [phrasal verb] lift (something) down also lift down (something) : to pick up (something) in order to move it to a lower position
• I had to lift the box down from the top shelf to the floor.
lift off [phrasal verb] of an airplane, rocket, etc. : to rise up from the ground or another surface
• planes lifting off from the runway
• Thousands of spectators watched as the space shuttle lifted off.
- see also liftoff
lift weights : to exercise by lifting heavy objects (such as barbells) in order to become stronger
• He has been lifting weights for exercise.
- lift·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• a mechanical lifter
- see also weight lifter