aloft
Americanadverb
-
high up; far above the ground.
-
Nautical.
-
on the masts; in the rigging; overhead.
-
(on a square-rigged sailing ship) in the upper rigging, specifically, on or above the lower yards (opposed to alow).
-
-
in or into the air.
preposition
adverb
-
in or into a high or higher place; up above
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
They were charged as part of Operation Aloft, launched by Merseyside Police to look into the awarding of commercial and business contracts from the council between 2010 and 2020.
From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025
A real estate affiliate of Blackstone Group owns Fairfield Inn & Suites and Aloft hotels in El Segundo.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2023
A spokesperson with the Aloft and Element Hotel in Midtown Tampa said tourism likely won’t take too big of a hit this year, at least in the Tampa area.
From Fox News • Mar. 5, 2022
In the Friday predawn, Al Schmidt stepped from his room in the Aloft Hotel, which adjoins the convention center.
From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2020
Aloft, floating free beneath the moist, gleaming membrane of bright blue sky, is the rising earth, the only exuberant thing in this part of the cosmos.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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.
