aloft
gb/əlˈɔft/ us/əlˈɔft/
B2
English
~ 26100
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
relation
1
high up in the air
high up in the air, above the ground
Usage pattern:
[something] stays/remains aloft
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use "aloft" before a noun, as in *"an aloft bird"*, but this is incorrect. "Aloft" is an adverb and usually comes after the verb, as in "The bird is aloft" or "The bird flew aloft." Another issue is overusing "aloft" in everyday conversation; in speech, "up in the air" or "overhead" is more common, while "aloft" is frequent in writing.
Synonyms
overhead (More common in everyday speech; often used for things above you indoors or outdoors, not just in the sky.)
|
up above (Very informal phrase; more conversational and less literary than "aloft.")
Antonyms
below (Describes being at a lower level or under something, the opposite of being high above it.)
Collocations
stay aloft
|remain aloft
|high aloft
|birds aloft
|aircraft aloft
|balloon aloft
Themes
nature
|travel
|weather
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The kite danced aloft in the strong afternoon wind.
- From the valley we could see eagles circling aloft.
- The helicopter hovered aloft while rescuers were lowered to the ground.
- A single bright lantern hung aloft, lighting the narrow street.
Learner examples
- Many birds were flying aloft in the clear sky.
- The small plane stayed aloft for three hours.
- A red balloon floated aloft above the city.
- We looked up and saw dark clouds gathering aloft.
adverb
C1
state
2
raised and held high up
held up high, often over someone’s head
Usage pattern:
[someone] holds [something] aloft
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes put "aloft" before the verb, as in *"aloft he held the flag"*, which sounds very old-fashioned; in modern English it is more natural to say "He held the flag aloft." They may also confuse this sense with simple "up" or "high"; in everyday speech, "held up high" is more common, while "held aloft" often appears in news or sports reports.
Synonyms
up high (Very common, informal phrase; focuses on height without the slightly dramatic or formal feel of "aloft.")
|
upraised (More formal and literary; often used in descriptions, especially of hands or weapons.)
Antonyms
lowered (Describes something that has been brought down from a high position, the opposite of being held aloft.)
Collocations
hold aloft
|raise aloft
|wave aloft
|brandish aloft
Themes
sports
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The captain held the trophy aloft as the crowd cheered.
- Protesters waved their signs aloft in front of city hall.
- He raised the torch aloft, lighting the ancient stone walls.
- She stood on the stage with her medal held aloft for the cameras.
Learner examples
- The winner held the cup aloft.
- Fans waved their flags aloft after the game.
- He lifted the child aloft so she could see.
- She raised the sign aloft so everyone could read it.
adverb
technical
C2
relation
3
up in a ship’s rigging
high up on a ship, in the mast or ropes above the deck
Usage pattern:
[someone] goes aloft
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is a special nautical sense and may think it just means "up" in any context. In general English, this use is rare and mostly appears in sea-related texts.
Synonyms
up the mast (Informal descriptive phrase explaining location; not a single-word technical term like "aloft.")
Antonyms
below deck (Refers to being inside the ship under the main deck, the opposite of being high up in the rigging.)
Collocations
go aloft
|sent aloft
|working aloft
|crew aloft
Themes
transport
|work
|travel
|transportation
Examples
- In heavy weather, only experienced sailors were allowed to go aloft.
- He spent the afternoon aloft, repairing the damaged rigging.
- The captain ordered a man aloft to watch for ice ahead.
Learner examples
- The sailor went aloft to fix the sail.
- It is dangerous to work aloft in a storm.
- Only trained crew are allowed to go aloft.
Grammar
Dictionary form
aloft
IPA
GB/əlˈɔft/
US/əlˈɔft/
Syllables & stress
aloft (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: aloft
- Plural: alofts
Word family
Forms
alofts
noun
Core family
loft
noun
lofty
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
loftily
adverb
loftiness
noun
Expressions
hold aloft
1/hˈoʊld əlˈɔft/
fixed phrase
hold something high in the air
to hold something up high, usually over your head, so that people can see it
Examples
- The champion held aloft the golden cup as photographers rushed forward.
- Crowds filled the square, many of them holding aloft candles in the dark.
- She held aloft a picture of her missing brother.
raise aloft
1/ɹˈeɪz əlˈɔft/
fixed phrase
lift something high into the air
to lift something up to a high position in the air
Examples
- The workers raised aloft a huge banner that covered the front of the building.
- He raised aloft the torch, and the crowd fell silent.
- As the music ended, the dancers raised aloft their joined hands.
stay aloft
1/stˈeɪ əlˈɔft/
fixed phrase
remain in the air
to continue to be in the air and not come down
Examples
- The drone can stay aloft for nearly an hour on a single battery.
- Strong winds helped the glider stay aloft with very little effort.
- Early balloons could not stay aloft for long before losing hot air.