boost

[ boost ]

verb (used with object)

1. to lift or raise by pushing from behind or below.
2. to advance or aid by speaking well of; promote:

   She always boosts her hometown.

3. to increase; raise:

   to boost prices;

   to boost the horsepower of the car by 20 percent.

4. to administer a booster shot to:

   Have you and your family been boosted yet?

5. Slang. to steal, especially to shoplift:

   Two computers were boosted from the office last night.

verb (used without object)

1. Slang. to engage in stealing, especially shoplifting.

noun

1. an upward shove or raise; lift.
2. an increase; rise:

   There's been a tremendous boost in food prices.

   Synonyms: uptick, upswing, upsurge, growth, hike

3. an act, remark, or the like, that helps one's progress, morale, efforts, etc.:

   His pep talk was the boost our team needed.

boost

/ buːst /

noun

1. encouragement, improvement, or help

   a boost to morale

2. an upward thrust or push

   he gave him a boost over the wall

3. an increase or rise

   a boost in salary

4. a publicity campaign; promotion
5. the amount by which the induction pressure of a supercharged internal-combustion engine exceeds that of the ambient pressure

verb

1. to encourage, assist, or improve

   to boost morale

2. to lift by giving a push from below or behind
3. to increase or raise

   to boost the voltage in an electrical circuit

4. to cause to rise; increase

   to boost sales

5. to advertise on a big scale
6. to increase the induction pressure of (an internal-combustion engine) above that of the ambient pressure; supercharge

boost

/ bo̅o̅st /

1. A linear map from one reference frame to another in which each coordinate is increased or decreased by an independent constant or linear function. A boost corresponds to a shift of the entire coordinate system without any rotation of its axes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of boost¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; perhaps Scots dialect boose (variant of pouss push ) + (hoi)st

Word History and Origins

Origin of boost¹

C19: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Whichever teammate happens to be slower on the climb will get a boost from their faster teammate, and the two of them will both reach the summit at the faster teammate’s time.

From FiveThirtyEight

Think to yourself whether a particular article seems too good to be true, and seek out multiple reputable sources before giving it a signal boost.

From Ozy

Still, O’Brien has enjoyed a boost in funding and attention since the second round of unrest.

From ProPublica

HBO Max’s ad-supported tier, slated to debut next year, would seem poised to give Xandr a boost.

From Digiday

The boost lifted the chief executive officer’s fortune to almost $22 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

From Fortune

Prepare for takeoff, because quality vacation time will certainly boost your mood.

From The Daily Beast

Unz also notes that a higher minimum wage would discourage illegal immigration and boost consumer spending.

From The Daily Beast

Increasingly, adding solar power to the top of factories can help boost the bottom line.

From The Daily Beast

Firstly, there's the offensive notion that New York needs an ad campaign to boost tourism.

From The Daily Beast

And while everyone benefits from gardens, they can provide an extra boost for kids with special needs.

From The Daily Beast

For skilful attempts to convert a knock into a boost, commend us to the discredited nostrum exploiter.

From Project Gutenberg

In that case, we will have to turn in and88 give the fellow what you Americans call a boost.

From Project Gutenberg

"Then you'll have to boost the buggy-wheels, that's all," answered Jim.

From Project Gutenberg

Too beaten to bite they could only boost one against another like two schoolboys trying to push one another off a form.

From Project Gutenberg

I drag Vandeleur in a helpless condition out on the balcony, boost him up on the railing, and push him off.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• add to
• augment
• develop
• enlarge
• expand
• extend
• heighten
• jump
• raise