Synonyms

uplifting

American

[uhp-lif-ting] / ʌpˈlɪf tɪŋ /

adjective

inspirational; offering or providing hope, encouragement, salvation, etc..

an uplifting sermon.

Etymology

Origin of uplifting

First recorded in 1810–20; uplift + -ing ²

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.

His outfit, an Off White hoodie and a fleece bucket hat with a tortoise on the front, is just as uplifting and whimsical as his attitude.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Not exactly the most uplifting news when it feels like the apocalypse is just outside our doors.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

Epstein adds: "It is not uplifting, it is gossipy and defensive," saying he found the draft book "troubling" and recommending that Lord Mandelson look at his manuscript again.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

Credit-card issuers have an uplifting message for investors ahead of retailers’ earnings report: Consumer spending held up well in the last quarter of 2025, and continues to grow at a healthy clip.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Amaka broke into song at the end of each decade, uplifting Igbo songs that made Aunty Ifeoma sing in echoes, like an opera singer drawing the words from the pit of her stomach.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023