uplift

American  

[uhp-lift, uhp-lift] / ʌpˈlɪft, ˈʌpˌlɪft /

verb (used with object)

• uplifts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• uplifted,
  past participle,  past
• uplifting
  present participle

1. 

   to lift up; raise; elevate.

2. to improve socially, culturally, morally, or the like.

   to uplift downtrodden and deprived peoples.

3. to exalt emotionally or spiritually.

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verb (used without object)

• uplifts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• uplifted,
  past participle,  past
• uplifting
  present participle

1. to become uplifted.

noun

1. an act of lifting up or raising; elevation.

2. the process or work of improving, as socially, intellectually, or morally.

3. emotional or spiritual exaltation.

   Synonyms:

   enhancement, betterment, enrichment

4. a brassiere.

5. Geology. an upheaval.

uplift British  

verb

1. to raise; elevate; lift up

2. to raise morally, spiritually, culturally, etc

3. to collect (a passenger, parcel, etc); pick up

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noun

1. the act, process, or result of lifting up

2. the act or process of bettering moral, social or cultural conditions, etc

3. 1. a brassiere for lifting and supporting the breasts

   2. ( as modifier )

      an uplift bra

4. the process or result of land being raised to a higher level, as during a period of mountain building

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• uplifter
  noun
• upliftment
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• uplifting
  present
• uplifted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• uplift
  simple
• uplifts
  simple
• have uplifted
  perfect
• has uplifted
  perfect
• am uplifting
  progressive
• are uplifting
  progressive
• is uplifting
  progressive
• have been uplifting
  perfect progressive
• has been uplifting
  perfect progressive

Past

• uplifted
  simple
• had uplifted
  perfect
• was uplifting
  progressive
• were uplifting
  progressive
• had been uplifting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will uplift
  simple
• will have uplifted
  perfect
• will be uplifting
  progressive
• will have been uplifting
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of uplift

First recorded in 1300–50, uplift is from the Middle English word upliften. See up-, lift

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

uplift uplifts uplifted uplifting

Landslides are common in the coastal mountains of Alaska where rapid uplift, caused by tectonic forces and long-term ice loss, converges with the erosive forces of precipitation and moving glaciers.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

Mercedes introduced an aerodynamic upgrade in Malaysia last weekend, but it did not give the car the performance uplift expected.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

This is positive for rail operations of its subsidiary SBS Transit, with net revenue uplift for SBS Transit at around 18.8 million Singapore dollars, the analyst estimates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

"Our staff were able to uplift the seal and drive it to a safe place where it was released into the water," Senior Sergeant Miriam Bentley from Wellington Police said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

But anyhow there was uplift, and indeed it was observable, both in the resolute set of their faces and in the gratification that shone in their eyes.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Meanwhile NielsenIQ noted many related works -- including "The Iliad", Madeline Miller's "Circe" and Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad" -- had also seen "significant" sales uplifts.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

"I reiterate my commitment to ensuring HSC colleagues receive their recommended 26-27 pay uplifts, despite the unprecedented shortfall as indicated in my draft budget," he said.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

Devlin also questioned how quickly MLAs would receive the money, when nurses have previously had to threaten strike action to get their pay uplifts promised by the Northern Ireland Executive.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

The truth is that Lucumí honors nature, uplifts ancestors, and offers tools for collective survival.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2025

The curious beauty of African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad tale.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

"She gives so much growth to the county and the surrounding Appalachia -- economically, yes, but she has also uplifted us spiritually. She's known worldwide for being so kind."

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

It’s been a week of emotional and intellectual whiplash, but I head into the theater feeling uplifted.

From Slate ● May 8, 2026

For those weighed down by adult concerns, watching an episode leaves them feeling uplifted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

We imagine a stranger on the train will put their headphones on when we chat them up, so we stay silent even though most people are uplifted by conversation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

He wanted to train me to an elevation I could never reach; it racked me hourly to aspire to the standard he uplifted.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

To watch these real and fictional partnerships play out without doubting their credibility is… I don’t know, is uplifting the word?

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

"And when we look at all the different satellite images across multiple years, we can see how the distance between the satellite and the ground changes, where it is uplifting or subsiding."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

That story is told in this show, which our critic called “a revelatory and, despite everything, uplifting exhibition.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

"It's been a really uplifting experience for all involved, having that routine, knowing you're outside and being with people in your community," she added.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

“Thanks for the uplifting chat, Gabe,” Lucas said, splashing my brother.

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley

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