aloft
Americanadverb
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high up; far above the ground.
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Nautical.
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on the masts; in the rigging; overhead.
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(on a square-rigged sailing ship) in the upper rigging, specifically, on or above the lower yards (opposed to alow).
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in or into the air.
preposition
adverb
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in or into a high or higher place; up above
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nautical in or into the rigging of a vessel
Etymology
Origin of aloft
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English o loft, from Old Norse ā lopt “in the air”; equivalent to a- 1 + loft
Explanation
Something up in the air or really high is aloft. Aloft has a soft, floaty sound to it, and it's a great word for talking about flying birds, airborne ballet dancers, and soaring spitballs. Things that are above or overhead are aloft, and they can be flying free or lifted up. Frisbees are aloft when they cut through the air, and your hands are aloft when you hold them high to catch a Frisbee. Some things are stationary, or set in place, and aloft, like tree houses and birds' nests. You might feel suspended in time as you catch air on your bike, aloft over the ground — until you hit pavement reality three seconds later.
Vocabulary lists containing aloft
A Long Walk to Water
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"Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It could soar on IPO days and remain aloft, despite what the numbers suggest will be a majestic overvaluation from the inception.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
McIlroy hugged his caddie Harry Diamond, looked to the sky and let out a roar as he raised him arms aloft - his sixth major title cementing his place as one of the sport's greats.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
“Wealthy Americans have been credited with keeping consumer spending aloft over the past few years as general uncertainty spread,” said Elizabeth Renter, senior economist at NerdWallet.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026
It is no wonder the image of Cannavaro holding the trophy aloft at the Olympiastadion now feels like a fever dream to most Italians.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
With a cry, he snatched it up and held it triumphantly aloft.
From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
