hoist

[ hoist or, sometimes, hahyst ]

/ hɔɪst or, sometimes, haɪst /

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See synonyms for: hoist / hoisted on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to raise or lift, especially by some mechanical appliance: to hoist a flag; to hoist the mainsail.

to raise to one's lips and drink; drink (especially beer or whiskey) with gusto: Let's go hoist a few beers.

Archaic. a simple past tense and past participle of hoise.

noun

an apparatus for hoisting, as a block and tackle, a derrick, or a crane.

act of hoisting; a lift: Give that sofa a hoist at your end.

Nautical.

the vertical dimension amidships of any square sail that is hoisted with a yard.Compare drop (def. 31).
the distance between the hoisted and the lowered position of such a yard.
the dimension of a fore-and-aft sail along the luff.
a number of flags raised together as a signal.

(on a flag)

the vertical dimension as flown from a vertical staff.
the edge running next to the staff.Compare fly² (def. 30b).

OTHER WORDS FOR hoist

1 elevate.

See synonyms for hoist on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR hoist

1 lower.

See antonyms for hoist on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about hoist

hoist by / with one's own petard. petard (def. 4).

Origin of hoist

First recorded in 1540–50; later variant of hoise, with -t as in against, etc.

synonym study for hoist

1. See raise.

OTHER WORDS FROM hoist

hoister, nounun·hoist·ed, adjective

Words nearby hoist

hoiden, hoi polloi, hoise, hoisin, hoisin sauce, hoist, hoist by one's own petard, hoity-toity, Hojo, hoka, Hokan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hoist in a sentence

We lowered the hoist, Moore attached it to both him and the swimmer, and we pulled them back up and out of the water.
What it’s like to rescue someone at sea from a Coast Guard helicopter|Rob Verger|July 20, 2021|Popular-Science
Rescuing someone via a helicopter and its hoist is an especially dramatic and effective way for the Coast Guard to grab someone in distress at sea.
What it’s like to rescue someone at sea from a Coast Guard helicopter|Rob Verger|July 20, 2021|Popular-Science
Commander David McCown, the air station’s executive officer, estimates hoist rescues happen roughly once a month.
What it’s like to rescue someone at sea from a Coast Guard helicopter|Rob Verger|July 20, 2021|Popular-Science
Once Judin was attached, the hoist brought them both back up.
What it’s like to rescue someone at sea from a Coast Guard helicopter|Rob Verger|July 20, 2021|Popular-Science

Then the hoist pulled him up and out, and—after a thumbs-up from the duck—lowered him out of sight and into the sea.
What it’s like to rescue someone at sea from a Coast Guard helicopter|Rob Verger|July 20, 2021|Popular-Science
We happily hoist our egg nog in the air, embrace each other, and raise our out-of-tune voices in song.
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hoist that big historical asterisk skyward and place it next to his name.
The GOP’s Audacious Impeachment Spin Job|Michael Tomasky|July 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Carter scurried back to Mace and reached down to hoist him up.
Ty Carter Awarded Medal of Honor|David Eisler, Jake Tapper|August 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But a significant number of your fellow citizens have a very different vision as they hoist the flag.
We’re Not a Christian Nation|Fred Rich|July 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But the regime's canons push them back before they can hoist their flag over the liberated barracks.
Syria: Would a No-Fly Zone Help the Rebels Oust Assad?|Barak Barfi|September 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The slings were affixed, the order to hoist was given by the mate, who had descended from the poop, and stood near the gangway.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands|R.M. Ballantyne
If with the Vice-Admiral he will hoist a white flag at the end of the gaff or derrick, and fire two guns.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
Harvey, without further notice of his companion, proceeded to hoist the sail a little so that he could take two reefs in it.
The Rival Campers Afloat|Ruel Perley Smith
I will make a windlass as soon as I can, and we will soon hoist out another, like they turn a bucket of water up from a well.
The Children of the New Forest|Captain Marryat
I know 'em all, for I took care of their hall,—their armory,—and they made me hoist the flag one day union down.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.

British Dictionary definitions for hoist

hoist

/ (hɔɪst) /

verb

(tr) to raise or lift up, esp by mechanical means

hoist with one's own petard See petard (def. 2)

noun

any apparatus or device for hoisting

the act of hoisting

See rotary clothesline

nautical

the amidships height of a sail bent to the yard with which it is hoistedCompare drop (def. 15)
the difference between the set and lowered positions of this yard

nautical the length of the luff of a fore-and-aft sail

nautical a group of signal flags

the inner edge of a flag next to the staffCompare fly 1 (def. 25)

Derived forms of hoist

hoister, noun

Word Origin for hoist

C16: variant of hoise, probably from Low German; compare Dutch hijschen, German hissen

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

hoist

OTHER WORDS FOR hoist

OPPOSITES FOR hoist

Idioms about hoist

Origin of hoist

synonym study for hoist

OTHER WORDS FROM hoist

Words nearby hoist

Words related to hoist

How to use hoist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hoist

Derived forms of hoist

Word Origin for hoist