1 a [+ obj] : to move (something or someone) to a higher position : raise
▪ The paramedics lifted the stretcher into the ambulance. ▪ lift a bucket of water ▪ He lifted his foot from/off the gas pedal. ▪ He lifted his pen from the paper. ▪ She lifted her hands to the sky. ▪ She lifted the child (up) onto her lap. ▪ He lifted his head (up) and looked at us. ▪ She lifted (up) the lid of the box.
b [no obj] : to rise up from the ground or some other surface
▪ The balloon lifted [=rose] into the sky. 2 [+ obj] : to move (someone or something) to a higher condition or position
▪ The story lifted him to national recognition. ▪ lifting people from poverty 3 ◊If your spirits lift or your mood lifts or if something lifts your spirits/mood, you become happier or less sad.
▪ The beauty of the sunrise lifted her spirits. = Her spirits lifted when she saw the beauty of the sunrise. 4 ◊When a weight/load/burden has been lifted from your shoulders/back, you are able to stop worrying about some large problem or responsibility.
▪ After I finally told my mother about my concerns, I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. [=I felt very relieved] 5 [+ obj] : to increase the amount of (something)
▪ The company has been trying to improve the quality of its products without lifting [=(more commonly) raising] prices. 6 [+ obj] : to make (your voice) louder
▪ He barely lifted [=raised] his voice above a whisper. ▪ The preacher told them to lift (up) their voices and sing. 7 [+ obj] informal a : to take (an idea, plan, etc.) from another source often in a way that is wrong
▪ The plot of the movie was lifted [=taken] from real life. ▪ an idea lifted from another novel
b : to steal (something)
▪ Somebody lifted her purse when she wasn't looking.
c : to take (something) out of a normal position or setting
▪ lift a word out of context 8 [+ obj] : to stop or remove (something, such as a rule that prevents people from doing something) often for only a short time
▪ lift a blockade ▪ The city has temporarily lifted its ban on smoking in bars. 9 [no obj] of fog, clouds, or smoke : to move up and disappear so that it is possible to see
▪ You can see the mountains when the clouds lift. ▪ We were shocked by what we saw when the fog/smoke finally lifted. [=cleared] 10 [+ obj] : to move (someone or something) from one place to another in an aircraft : airlift
▪ troops being lifted into enemy territory ▪ supplies being lifted to remote areas