boost

American  

[boost] / bust /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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 Scientific  

/ 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.

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Etymology

Origin of boost

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

Example Sentences

The report, which was boosted by healthy consumer and business spending, provided some reassurance to investors about the economic outlook after a string of increasingly weakening jobs data.

From Barron's

BP is now working to reinvigorate its fossil-fuels business in an effort to boost profits and lift its languishing share price.

From The Wall Street Journal

The deal may boost the company’s market share there, but it represents a strategic own goal for the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Realizing they could lose a bid that seemed assured, Paramount’s executives boost their offer to $30 a share, up from $26.50.

From Los Angeles Times

For the quarter of Americans who have side hustles, according to a recent Bankrate survey, this strategy could help boost retirement savings, rather than that money just getting spent at the moment.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• addition
• advance
• breakthrough
• expansion
• hike
• improvement
• increment
• jump
• lift
• rise