lift
gb/lˈɪft/ us/lˈɪft/
A2
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Raise to a higher position
To move something or someone up to a higher place.
Usage pattern:
to lift [something/someone] [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'lift' with 'pick' — 'pick' means choose, while 'lift' means move upward.
Synonyms
raise (Very similar in meaning; 'raise' is slightly more formal and can also mean to increase in amount.)
Antonyms
lower (Means to move something down to a lower position, the opposite of lifting.)
Collocations
lift weights
|lift a box
|lift the lid
|lift a child
Themes
daily life
|physical actions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She lifted the suitcase onto the bed.
- He lifted the baby into his arms.
- The workers lifted the heavy beam into place.
- I can't lift this table by myself.
Learner examples
- I lift the box onto the table.
- She lifts her bag from the floor.
- He lifts his dog into the car.
- We lift the chair to move it.
Verb
B1
action
2
End a ban or restriction
To stop a rule or ban so people can do something again.
Usage pattern:
to lift [a ban/restriction/curfew]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this with 'raise' in the sense of increasing; here 'lift' means to remove, not to make bigger.
Synonyms
remove (General term for taking away something; not limited to rules or bans.)
Antonyms
impose (Means to put in place a rule or restriction, the opposite of lifting it.)
Collocations
lift a ban
|lift restrictions
|lift sanctions
Themes
law
|politics
Examples
- The government decided to lift the travel ban.
- They lifted restrictions on public gatherings.
- Sanctions were lifted after the agreement was signed.
Learner examples
- The school lifted the rule about uniforms.
- The city lifted the curfew last night.
- They lifted the ban on swimming.
Noun
A2
entity
3
Device for vertical transport
A machine that moves people or things up and down in a building.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize 'lift' is British English and 'elevator' is American English for the same thing.
Synonyms
elevator (American English term for the same device.)
Collocations
take the lift
|wait for the lift
|get in the lift
Themes
buildings
|transport
|transportation
|housing
Examples
- We took the lift to the tenth floor.
- The lift is out of order today.
- She waited for the lift in the lobby.
Learner examples
- I go up in the lift.
- The lift is slow today.
- We wait for the lift.
Verb
B1
action
4
Make someone feel happier
To make someone feel better or happier.
Usage pattern:
to lift [someone's] spirits/mood/confidence
Synonyms
cheer up ('Cheer up' is more informal and used directly to address someone; 'lift' is often used in descriptive contexts.)
Antonyms
discourage (Means to make someone lose confidence or hope, opposite of lifting their mood.)
Collocations
lift someone's spirits
|lift morale
Themes
emotions
Examples
- Her kind words lifted my spirits.
- Winning the game lifted the team's morale.
- The surprise visit lifted his mood.
Learner examples
- Her smile lifts my mood.
- The music lifts my spirits.
- The news lifts our hopes.
Noun
informal
A2
event
5
Free ride in a vehicle
When someone drives you somewhere without charging you money.
Synonyms
ride ('Ride' is more general and used in both paid and unpaid contexts; 'lift' usually means free ride.)
Collocations
give someone a lift
|get a lift
Themes
daily life
|transport
|transportation
|travel
|daily_life
Examples
- Can you give me a lift to the station?
- I got a lift from my neighbor this morning.
- She offered me a lift home after work.
Learner examples
- He gives me a lift to school.
- I get a lift from my friend.
- She gives us a lift home.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lift
IPA
GB/lˈɪft/
US/lˈɪft/
Syllables & stress
lift (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lift)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: lift
- Plural: lift, lifts
Verb
- Base: lift
- 3rd Person Singular: lifts
- Present Participle: lifting
- Past: lifted
Word family
Forms
lifts
noun
lifting
verb
lifted
verb
Related words
lifter
noun
Advanced or less common
uplift
verb B2
Expressions
give someone a lift
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə lˈɪft/
fixed phrase
informal
Drive someone without charging them
To take someone to a place in your car without asking them to pay.
Examples
- Can you give me a lift to work?
- She gave me a lift home after class.
lift off
1/lˈɪft ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
Rise into air at launch
When an aircraft or rocket leaves the ground and goes into the air.
Examples
- The plane lifted off at exactly 8:00 a.m.
- The rocket will lift off in five minutes.
lift weights
1/lˈɪft wˈeɪts/
fixed phrase
Do strength training with weights
To exercise by picking up heavy objects again and again to make your muscles stronger.
Examples
- He lifts weights at the gym every morning.
- Lifting weights can help improve your fitness.
lift someone's spirits
1/lˈɪft sˈʌmwˌʌnz spˈɪɹɪts/
fixed phrase
Make someone happier emotionally
To make someone feel better or happier emotionally.
Examples
- The good news really lifted my spirits.
- His joke lifted everyone's spirits during the meeting.
lift someone's spirits
2/lˈɪft sˈʌmwˌʌnz spˈɪɹɪts/
fixed phrase
make someone feel happier again
To make someone feel happier or less sad.
Examples
- The good news lifted his spirits.
- A nice walk can lift your spirits.