weightlifting

American  

[weyt-lif-ting] / ˈweɪtˌlɪf tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act, art, or sport of lifting barbells of given poundages in a prescribed manner, as a competitive event or conditioning exercise.

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weightlifting British  

/ ˈweɪtˌlɪftɪŋ /

noun

1. the sport of lifting barbells of specified weights in a prescribed manner for competition or exercise

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Other Word Forms

• weightlifter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of weightlifting

First recorded in 1895–1900; weight + lift ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

The sport in which athletes compete to see who can hold the heaviest barbells is called weightlifting. To participate in weightlifting, you need a lot of upper-body strength. In the Olympics, weightlifting is an event in which competitors heft enormous, heavy barbells up over their heads and attempt to hold them there. These barbells are stacked with weighted plates and can be as heavy as 250 pounds. Weightlifting requires powerful arm, back, and shoulder muscles, whether it's done competitively in the Olympics or as part of strength training for other sports.

Example Sentences

But in May, Las Vegas will host the first full-scale Enhanced Games, a four-day meet in swimming, track and field, and weightlifting.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

“Surely, Coach, you can find a better punishment? An hour of weightlifting or 10 loops running around the stadium … Come on.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 30, 2026

Youth women’s soccer, alongside weightlifting and table tennis, is something of an athletic arbitrage for cash-strapped North Korea.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Meals tried hang-gliding at Dockweiler Beach, fencing on the Santa Monica border, rock climbing in Chatsworth, boxing and go-kart racing in Sylmar, weightlifting at Muscle Beach in Venice.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2025

We steer clear of archery and weightlifting though, wanting to save those for our private sessions.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins