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Showing results for "uplifting"
  • present participle of uplift.
Synonyms

uplifting

American  
[uhp-lif-ting] / ʌpˈlɪf tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. inspirational; offering or providing hope, encouragement, salvation, etc..

    an uplifting sermon.


uplifting British  
/ ʌpˈlɪftɪŋ /

adjective

  1. acting to raise moral, spiritual, cultural, etc levels

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of uplifting

First recorded in 1810–20; uplift + -ing 2


Explanation

When you stand on a beach and admire the uplifting of a kite into the blue sky, you're watching it move up. Watching that kite rise might be an uplifting, or moving, experience. Use the noun uplifting to describe the upward movement of something. You could describe the uplifting of a hot air balloon on a sunny day, or the uplifting of a girl's long hair in the wind. The action of something rising is an uplifting. A more common way to use the word is as an adjective describing something that figuratively lifts one's spirits or mood.

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Vocabulary lists containing uplifting

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.

See Examples For:

"When it's subsiding, that means that there's probably magma draining away from the volcano, but once the ground starts uplifting again, that can mean that there's potentially new magma moving in," Johnson said.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

And zonk it is, indeed; “Date Night” is an exhilarating, high-velocity, uplifting song with a surprisingly singable chorus.

From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026

His government runs a number of scheme aimed at uplifting women and Modi enjoys tremendous popularity among female voters.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

The most uplifting parts of Ms. Kaushal’s book highlight the extent to which African immigrants cherish the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

I missed Papa’s deep, strong voice, and being away from home, away from my siblings, it was extra nice to hear something so familiar and uplifting.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

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