Standard Lemma guide

boost

noun · verb · 18 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /buːst/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Northern-Ireland, Scotland: /bʉst/
  • rhymes with -uːst
  • CMU ARPABET: B UW1 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A push from behind or below, as to one who is endeavoring to climb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The controversy gave a boost to the author's sales.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A coordinate transformation that changes velocity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A positive intake manifold pressure in cars with turbochargers or superchargers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: automotive, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, transport, vehicles

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb); to push up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To help or encourage (something) to increase or improve; to assist in overcoming obstacles.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, transitive

Examples

  • This campaign will boost your chances of winning the election.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To steal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: slang, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To jump-start a vehicle by using cables to connect the battery in a running vehicle to the battery in a vehicle that won't start.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To give a booster shot to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To amplify; to signal boost.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

the act of giving hope or support to someone

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: encouragement

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: aid, assist, assistance, help

Narrower terms: morale building, morale booster

12

noun

Meaning 12

the act of giving a push

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he gave her a boost over the fence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: push, pushing

13

noun

Meaning 13

an increase in cost

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they asked for a 10% rise in rates

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rise, hike, cost increase

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: increase, increment

14

verb

Meaning 14

give a boost to; be beneficial to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The tax cut will boost the economy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: increase

15

verb

Meaning 15

increase or raise

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • boost the voltage in an electrical circuit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: advance, supercharge

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: increase

16

verb

Meaning 16

push or shove upward, as if from below or behind

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The singer had to be boosted onto the stage by a special contraption

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: thrust

17

verb

Meaning 17

increase

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The landlord hiked up the rents

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hike, hike up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: raise, lift, elevate, get up, bring up

18

verb

Meaning 18

contribute to the progress or growth of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: promote, advance, further, encourage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: support, back up

Narrower terms: connive at, wink at, foster, further, spur, help, carry, feed, contribute, lead, conduce

History

Etymology

Unknown. The verb is first recorded 1815; the noun, 1825. Compare Scots boost (“to move; drive off; shoo away”), bost, boast (“to threaten; scold”), Middle English boosten, bosten (“to threaten”). Possible doublet of boast.

Across languages

Translations

73 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: узмацненне (uzmacnjennje) — push from behind
  • Bulgarian: повдигане (povdigane) — push from behind
  • Bulgarian: подпомагане (podpomagane) — push from behind
  • Catalan: impuls — push from behind
  • Dutch: zetje — push from behind
  • Dutch: duwtje — push from behind
  • Dutch: duwtje in de rug — push from behind
  • Finnish: työntö — push from behind
  • Finnish: avitus — push from behind
  • Galician: pulo — push from behind
  • Galician: impulso — push from behind
  • German: Boost — push from behind
  • Italian: spinta — push from behind
  • Polish: wzmocnienie — push from behind
  • Portuguese: impulso — push from behind
  • Russian: усиле́ние (usilénije) — push from behind
  • Spanish: impulso — push from behind
  • Spanish: empuje — push from behind
  • Spanish: empujón — push from behind
  • Spanish: impulsión — push from behind
  • German: Unterstützung — something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance
  • Spanish: empujón — something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance
  • Spanish: mosh — something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance
  • Spanish: subidón — something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance
  • Spanish: impulsión — something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance
  • Ukrainian: запомо́га (zapomóha) — something that helps, or adds power or effectiveness; assistance
  • Bulgarian: вдигам (vdigam) — to lift or push from behind
  • Bulgarian: издигам (izdigam) — to lift or push from behind
  • Bulgarian: покачвам (pokačvam) — to lift or push from behind
  • Catalan: impel·lir — to lift or push from behind
  • Catalan: empènyer — to lift or push from behind
  • Dutch: een zetje geven — to lift or push from behind
  • Dutch: een duwtje geven — to lift or push from behind
  • Dutch: een duwtje in de rug geven — to lift or push from behind
  • Esperanto: vigliĝi — to lift or push from behind
  • Finnish: työntää — to lift or push from behind
  • Finnish: avittaa — to lift or push from behind
  • Galician: impulsar — to lift or push from behind
  • German: schieben — to lift or push from behind
  • German: drücken — to lift or push from behind
  • Greek: ενισχύω (enischýo) — to lift or push from behind
  • Polish: zwiększać — to lift or push from behind
  • Polish: zasilać — to lift or push from behind
  • Portuguese: impulsionar — to lift or push from behind
  • Romanian: ridica — to lift or push from behind
  • Russian: подталкивать (podtalkivatʹ) — to lift or push from behind
  • Russian: давать толчок (davatʹ tolčok) — to lift or push from behind
  • Spanish: impulsar — to lift or push from behind
  • Spanish: empujar — to lift or push from behind
  • Spanish: aupar — to lift or push from behind
  • Spanish: upar — to lift or push from behind
  • German: anspornen — to help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
  • German: verstärken — to help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
  • Italian: incrementare — to help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
  • Italian: potenziare — to help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
  • Italian: rafforzare — to help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
  • Thai: เพิ่ม (pə̂əm) — to help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
  • Thai: ส่งเสริม (sòng-sə̌əm) — to help or encourage (something) to increase or improve
  • Bulgarian: задигам (zadigam) — to steal
  • Catalan: bitllar — to steal
  • Dutch: jatten — to steal
  • Dutch: stelen — to steal
  • Dutch: ontvreemden — to steal
  • Finnish: pölliä — to steal
  • Galician: roubar — to steal
  • German: klauen — to steal
  • German: stehlen — to steal
  • Hungarian: (el)lop — to steal
  • Hungarian: elcsór — to steal
  • Spanish: robar — to steal
  • Swedish: sno — to steal
  • Swedish: tjuva — to steal
  • Swedish: stjäla — to steal