26984 words

lifts

28 definitions • 41 examples
1
to move something from a lower to a higher position:

Examples:

Could you help me lift this table, please?
Could you lift your chair a little- I've got my coat caught under it.
lift something up I lifted it up and looked underneath.
lift something to something She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip.
lift your eyes He lifted his eyes (= looked up) from the paper and glared.
2
to win a race or competition in which the prize is a metal cup:

Examples:

He is the hot favourite to lift the cup again next month.
3
to dig underground vegetables or plants out of the ground:

Examples:

They're lifting potatoes.
4
to take hold of and raise something in order to remove, carry, or move it to a different position:

Examples:

She lifted the baby out of her chair.
He lifted the box carefully down from the shelf.
You shouldn't be lifting any heavy objects in your condition.
5
to make your voice louder, especially when performing
6
to make something more interesting or enjoyable:

Examples:

The article is informative enough, but it's a little dull - we need something to lift it.
7
to make someone happier:

Examples:

Nothing - not even the prospect of dinner - could lift his spirits.
8
(of mist or fog) to go away until none is left:

Examples:

The morning mist had lifted and the sun was starting to come through.
9
to end a rule or law:

Examples:

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.
10
to steal something
11
to use someone else's writing, music, or idea, pretending that it is your own:

Examples:

He'd lifted whole passages from a website.
12
a device like a box that moves up and down, carrying people or goods from one floor of a building to another or taking people up and down underground in a mine:

Examples:

take the lift Take the lift to the sixth floor.
13
an act of lifting or raising something:

Examples:

Give it one more lift and we'll have it at the top of the stairs.
14
the force on the wing of a bird or aircraft that keeps it in the air as it moves forward
15

Examples:

I can't believe he's 60 — he must have had a lift.
16
a free journey in another person's vehicle, especially a car:

Examples:

give someone a lift I'll give you a lift to the train station if you like.
hitch a lift He hitched a lift (= stood by the road and made a signal asking a car to stop and take him) to Birmingham.
17
to make someone happier:

Examples:

She'd been feeling low but hearing that she'd got the job gave her a lift.
18
to move something from a lower to a higher position:

Examples:

[ T ] I can’t lift you up – you’re a big boy now!
[ I always + adv/prep ] The top of the stool lifts off (= can be removed) so you can store things in it.
[ T ] She lifted the baby out of her chair.
[ T ] fig. Nothing, it seemed, could lift his spirits (= make him feel happier).
19
(of fog or rain) to go away until none is left:

Examples:

The morning mist had lifted and the sun was shining.
20
to end a rule or law:

Examples:

They finally lifted the ban on baggy jeans at my school.
21
to steal something:

Examples:

He lifted whole paragraphs verbatim from my book.
22
a free trip in another person’s vehicle, esp. a car:

Examples:

Can I give you a lift home?
23
Br A lift is an elevator.
24
to make the amount or level of something rise:

Examples:

The group's shares were lifted 5.25p to 170p by the news.
Economists said that the cash probably helped lift the economy out of recession.
25
to move something from a lower to a higher position:

Examples:

They use a crane to lift the containers onto the ship.
26
to end a rule or law:
27
an increase:

Examples:

a lift in sth Local stores saw a lift in sales.
That gave the dollar a lift against the yen.
28
a device like a box that moves up and down, carrying people or goods from one floor of a building to another:

Examples:

in the lift I came up in the lift with the company Chairman.

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