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

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

Weaker-than-expected domestic demand and orders during the traditional peak season suggest no seasonal uplift to sales.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 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

Productions that film at least half of their days and spend at least $10 million in qualified compensation in 10 or more states also could qualify for an additional uplift.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

They were filmmakers from New York City, and they’d been sent to Welch as part of a government program to bring cultural uplift to rural Appalachia.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

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

“It’s about time that Los Angeles — a city that is nearly 50% Latino of which 70% are of Mexican descent — has a museum that honors and uplifts Chicano and Mexican Art.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

Dr Helen Kerr, a resident doctor in emergency medicine at Altnagelvin Hospital, said doctors felt they had been "forced into this after years of sub-inflationary pay uplifts".

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 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

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

UCLA’s bench was uplifted all season by Close’s warm intentionality, learned from years of mentorship from Wooden.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2026

"He brings hope when the Lebanese feel abandoned and we feel uplifted," he says.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2025

In Tannhauser, Lohengrin and The Mastersingers of Nuremberg he reworked ancient legend-fables so that his contemporaries would be uplifted by the chivalric pride inherent in the tales.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

"I'm excited to keep uplifting my friends and cheering them on as they reach for the Moon. Together, we'll keep pushing boundaries and inspiring the next giant leap."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 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

"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

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

Counterpoint, to Bach, was the ultimate set of laws in music; obeying these laws was for him something beautiful, uplifting and reassuring.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

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