boost 1 of 2

verb

ˈbüst How to pronounce boost (audio)
Definition of boostnext
1
as in to hoist
to lift with effort boosted the child into her car seat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to increase
to make greater in size, amount, or number a promotion that boosted the number of interested customers milling about the showroom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to enhance
to make markedly greater in measure or degree recommended eating foods that boost the body's immunity to disease

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to lift
to move from a lower to a higher place or position boosted the box onto the top shelf

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to promote
to provide publicity for boosted the singer's latest release with a round of appearances on all the talk and entertainment shows

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6
as in to steal
slang to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep the woman was nabbed trying to boost a couple of bottles of perfume

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boost

2 of 2

noun

1
as in support
an act or instance of helping she always liked to give struggling families in the neighborhood a boost

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in increase
something added (as by growth) a sudden boost in sales

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in incentive
something that arouses action or activity according to the President, a tax cut is just the boost that the economy needs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb boost contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of boost are elevate, heave, hoist, lift, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for boost?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When would heave be a good substitute for boost?

Although the words heave and boost have much in common, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When might hoist be a better fit than boost?

The meanings of hoist and boost largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

When could lift be used to replace boost?

The synonyms lift and boost are sometimes interchangeable, but lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

In what contexts can raise take the place of boost?

The words raise and boost can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How are the words rear and raise related as synonyms of boost?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of boost
Verb
The AuSable River Queen was built 60 years ago by the president of the local chamber of commerce to boost tourism in this rural corner of northeast Michigan. —John Carlisle, Freep.com, 23 July 2025 Getting sunlight first thing in the morning is a great way to boost your vitamin D and serotonin and support your physical and mental health. —Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 23 July 2025
Noun
Trump has also used tariffs, deals and threats as a way to give US industry a boost. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 July 2025 The housing market may be tipping back toward buyers, but a new proposal endorsed by President Donald Trump Tuesday could give sellers a financial boost. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for boost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boost
  1. hoist
  2. increase
  3. enhance
  4. lift
  5. promote
  6. steal
  7. support
  8. gain
Verb
  • As David Brooks might say, they were then hoisted on their own petards.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • That poor field position doomed New England, as the Patriots could only reach their own 49 as time expired and Philadelphia hoisted its first Lombardi Trophy.
    — David K. Li, NBC news, 17 July 2025
Definition of hoist
Verb
  • Decades of research and studies in agriculture have increased production across all crops in the U.S., said James, and cannabis can adopt those same technologies.
    — Julie Weed, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • The poll also showed that Trump's approval remains unchanged from March at 46 percent, while his disapproval increased by 1 point to 52 percent.
    — Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Senate Bill 6, authored by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, seeks to bolster grid reliability, enhance outage protections for residential consumers, adjust transmission cost allocations and improve ERCOT's load forecasting transparency.
    — Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • Moreover, while improving soil health and biodiversity, ranchers can enhance productivity.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 29 July 2025
Definition of enhance
Verb
  • Detroit Thermal is asking a judge to lift a temporary restraining order from doing work in Lafayette Park's Mies van der Rohe district to build an underground steam heat network.
    — Dana Afana, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
  • Spin scrubbers offer a serious boost in power, helping to lift stubborn stains, soap scum, hard water buildup, and kitchen messes that would otherwise require a lot of elbow grease.
    — Maggie Horton, People.com, 22 July 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • The organization aims to promote local music, art and live experiences that drive community, culture and tourism.
    — Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • At the end of the episode, Capt. Benson and her officers donned their dress blues and attended the ceremony in which Velasco was officially promoted.
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 July 2025
Definition of promote
Verb
  • The university's Davidge Hall once housed a small grayscale portrait of its namesake, dating to the 1800s, but that painting was stolen in the 1990s.
    — Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
  • The man police say was dating Nancy Jones — the widow of country music icon George Jones — stole cryptocurrency valued at more than $11.6 million and $400,000 in cash from her, according to a Williamson County arrest affidavit.
    — Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 July 2025
Definition of steal
Noun
  • Those wishing to provide monetary support to Heinz's parents, Shane and Amber, can do so through either Venmo or PayPal (daniellefaskell@gmail.com).
    — Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • The Kanwar Yatra passes through the northern states that form the bedrock of support for Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government, which critics accuse of attacking the secular ideals enshrined in India’s constitution.
    — Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
Definition of support
Noun
  • Help with muscle recovery and possible muscle gain: Consuming enough protein after physical activity helps speed the process of muscle repair and recovery.
    — Lauren O'Connor, Health, 28 July 2025
  • For many months, job gains have been concentrated in just a few sectors – health care, state and local governments, and leisure and hospitality.
    — Paul Davidson, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Definition of gain

Browse Nearby Words

boos
boost
boosted
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Cite this Entry

“Boost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boost. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.

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