Standard Lemma guide

uplift

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.

  • /ʌpˈlɪft/
  • ŭpʹlĭft
  • /ˈʌp.lɪft/
  • Northern-California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with (verb) -ɪft
  • ŭp-lĭftʹ
  • CMU ARPABET: AH1 P L IH0 F T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act or result of uplifting (in various senses).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A tectonic upheaval, especially one that takes place in the process of mountain building.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The picking up and loading of goods to be transported by a mover.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A brassiere that raises the breasts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An increase in a fine or penalty due to aggravating circumstances.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To raise something or someone to a higher physical, social, moral, intellectual, spiritual, or emotional level.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dignify, elevate, enlighten, enrich, lift, advance, aggrandize, ennoble, exalt, honor, nobilitate, prefer, promote, raise, uplift

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To raise something or someone to a higher physical, social, moral, intellectual, spiritual, or emotional level.

To raise (a nonsentient species) into sentience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dignify, elevate, enlighten, enrich, lift, advance, aggrandize, ennoble, exalt, honor, nobilitate, prefer, promote, raise, uplift

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To aggravate; to increase.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: exacerbate, worsen, adulterate, aggravate, alloy, canker, contaminate, corrupt, debase, debauch, defile, deflower, degrade, deteriorate, downgrade, envenom, exasperate, infect, impair, leaven, pejorate, set back, stain, sophisticate, uplift, vitiate, weaken

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To be accepted for carriage on a flight.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, lifestyle, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, tourism, transport, travel

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To remove (a child) from a damaging home environment by a social welfare organization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: New-Zealand

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To remove (a document) from its current possessor and take it into one's own possession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, transitive

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To backport.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, software

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To pick up; take possession of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-England

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

a brassiere that lifts and supports the breasts

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: brassiere, bra, bandeau

15

noun

Meaning 15

(geology) a rise of land to a higher elevation (as in the process of mountain building)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: upheaval, upthrow, upthrust

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rise, rising, ascent, ascension

16

verb

Meaning 16

fill with high spirits; fill with optimism

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Music can uplift your spirits

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: elate, lift up, pick up, intoxicate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stimulate, shake, shake up, excite, stir

Narrower terms: beatify, puff, exhilarate, tickle pink, inebriate, thrill, exalt

17

verb

Meaning 17

lift up or elevate

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: push up

18

verb

Meaning 18

lift up from the earth, as by geologic forces

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the earth's movement uplifted this part of town

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: rise, lift, arise, move up, go up, come up, uprise

History

Etymology

From up- + lift.

Across languages

Translations

32 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: извисяване (izvisjavane) — act of being uplifted
  • Bulgarian: издигане (izdigane) — tectonic upheaval
  • French: soulèvement — tectonic upheaval
  • Portuguese: sublevação — tectonic upheaval
  • Spanish: levantamiento — tectonic upheaval
  • Bulgarian: повдигащ сутиен (povdigašt sutien) — brassiere that raises the breasts
  • Bulgarian: сутиен с повдигащ ефект (sutien s povdigašt efekt) — brassiere that raises the breasts
  • French: balconnet — brassiere that raises the breasts
  • Bulgarian: извисявам (izvisjavam) — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Czech: povznést — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Czech: povznášet — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Finnish: kohottaa — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • French: élever — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • French: transcender — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • French: promouvoir — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • French: exalter — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Greek: μεταρσιώνω (metarsióno) — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Italian: elevare — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Italian: esaltare — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Persian: متعال ساختن — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Polish: podnosić — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Portuguese: elevar — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Russian: поднима́ть вверх (podnimátʹ vverx) — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Russian: поднима́ть (podnimátʹ) — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Russian: ободрять (obodrjatʹ) — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Spanish: elevar — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Spanish: alzar — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Spanish: trascender — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Spanish: exaltar — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Spanish: ensalzar — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Turkish: yükseltmek — to raise something or someone to a higher level
  • Ukrainian: піднімати вгору (pidnimaty vhoru) — to raise something or someone to a higher level
Real reading context

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