boost
Americanverb (used with object)
-
boosts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
boosted,
past participle, past
-
boosting
present participle
-
to lift or raise by pushing from behind or below.
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to advance or aid by speaking well of; promote.
She always boosts her hometown.
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to boost prices;
to boost the horsepower of the car by 20 percent.
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to administer a booster shot to.
Have you and your family been boosted yet?
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Slang. to steal, especially to shoplift.
Two computers were boosted from the office last night.
verb (used without object)
-
boosts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
boosted,
past participle, past
-
boosting
present participle
noun
-
encouragement, improvement, or help
a boost to morale
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an upward thrust or push
he gave him a boost over the wall
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an increase or rise
a boost in salary
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a publicity campaign; promotion
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the amount by which the induction pressure of a supercharged internal-combustion engine exceeds that of the ambient pressure
verb
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to encourage, assist, or improve
to boost morale
-
to lift by giving a push from below or behind
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to increase or raise
to boost the voltage in an electrical circuit
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to cause to rise; increase
to boost sales
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to advertise on a big scale
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to increase the induction pressure of (an internal-combustion engine) above that of the ambient pressure; supercharge
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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boostsimple
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boostssimple
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have boostedperfect
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has boostedperfect
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am boostingprogressive
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are boostingprogressive
-
is boostingprogressive
-
have been boostingperfect progressive
-
has been boostingperfect progressive
Past
-
boostedsimple
-
had boostedperfect
-
was boostingprogressive
-
were boostingprogressive
-
had been boostingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of boost
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; perhaps Scots dialect boose (variant of pouss push ) + (hoi)st
Explanation
Think of the word boost as meaning "help up." Maybe you need a boost getting over a fence (hmm — are you sneaking in or sneaking out?), or maybe you are feeling low and need to boost your spirits — chocolate, anyone? Sometimes words appear that really don't have any clear origins. Boost is one of those words, but it's a fun word, and it's thought that maybe it has some connection to boose, a Scots dialect word that carries the idea of a push. A slang meaning of the word is to sneakily steal, like shoplifting. You gave your cousin a boost into the window, not knowing he was planning on boosting some sneakers.
Vocabulary lists containing boost
Common Five-letter Words for Wordle, List 2
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Higher Learning: Synonyms For "Up"
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"Laws are not the only way to boost immunization”: an editorial from Nature
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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:
On one hand, the sector is seen as huge opportunity to boost economic growth and a way to improve outdated digital systems and ways of working.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
It delivered an immediate boost to Anna Nordqvist's team in the singles format that they have been unbeaten in since their last home defeat in 2015.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
In other words: These fears could also be a way to boost their collective bottom lines.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
A price target boost appears to be helping shares of power generation equipment provider GE Vernova on Friday.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
I walk around the tree, look for knots, and remember how Charlie used to boost me up to them.
From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King
Analysts say the appeal could extend a closely watched legal battle that has drawn attention to Chey's control of SK Group, as the AI boom boosts the value of its chip assets.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
"By changing the land to suit their needs, they can change it in such a way that boosts biodiversity and increases resilience in terms of climate change," Bowen added.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Addressing their basic needs by offering a host of services to all students and families — nearly 93% of children come from low-income households — is a priority that boosts attendance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Across the Northern Hemisphere, farmers consume large quantities of diesel during harvest season to power tractors, combines and other machinery, while colder weather later in the year typically boosts demand for heating fuels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
“What happens when the Sender boosts the power?”
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
Energy costs jumped by 4.2 percent over the month, notably boosted by the cost of diesel fuel, which surged 24.1 percent, the Labor Department report said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Adobe also boosted its outlook for the full fiscal year, projecting adjusted earnings between $24.45 and $24.50 a share and revenue between $26.576 billion and $26.626 billion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
It also boosted home hopes of a first American men's singles champion in New York for 23 years.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Uncertainty around iPhone prices has boosted sales this year, as consumers have preemptively bought now to avoid potential price hikes in the future, Jefferies analyst Edison Lee wrote in an August note.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 7, 2026
Other jockeys suffered bouts of weakness so severe that when boosted into the saddle they would fall right off the other side.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
"Growing the number of homes for rent through increased investment is the most sustainable route to boosting choice for renters and ensuring stability in rent levels over the long run."
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
So, arbitrarily boosting testosterone is not good for young men without deficiencies.
From Slate ● Sep. 13, 2026
Huawei has flourished despite the sanctions, expanding into new businesses, boosting profitability and finding fresh ways to curb its dependence on U.S. suppliers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Most people know it for boosting alertness, but scientists have also been interested in its possible connection to a lower risk of some age-related diseases.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
Some fool noticed this lunatic quality and gave her the task of "boosting morale" among us.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
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.
