as in lifting
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
craned her head to see the roof
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of craning
In a video shared on X, Hargitay could be seen craning her head while trying to look around a referee.
—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
With New York on the verge of history, and Wemby seemingly making history of his own every night, millions are craning their necks to watch.
—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Beyond the glass, across a small rocky strip of water, the zoo’s eldest giraffe is craning his impossibly long, elegant neck up to a hanging basket of foliage and methodically stripping the branches of their bark.
—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Joshua appeared as surprised as any of us, craning around as if the words had been blurted by someone on the periphery.
—
Chang-Rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
This flexible holder attaches easily to your seatback tray table and adjusts to multiple angles, allowing for hands-free viewing without craning your neck.
—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
Crowds of bird fans carrying smartphones and cameras are craning daily for a look at its silly walk, while mostly maintaining a respectful distance.
—
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Necks craning to the back of the hall, a hush fell over the small parochial church of Santa María Trinitá on the African island of São Tomé.
—
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
At large venues like the Paramount, late entries can mean watching from the upper balcony, craning toward the screen.
—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
With New York on the verge of history, and Wemby seemingly making history of his own every night, millions are craning their necks to watch.
—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Beyond the glass, across a small rocky strip of water, the zoo’s eldest giraffe is craning his impossibly long, elegant neck up to a hanging basket of foliage and methodically stripping the branches of their bark.
—
Irenie Forshaw,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Joshua appeared as surprised as any of us, craning around as if the words had been blurted by someone on the periphery.
—
Chang-Rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
This flexible holder attaches easily to your seatback tray table and adjusts to multiple angles, allowing for hands-free viewing without craning your neck.
—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Apr. 2026
Crowds of bird fans carrying smartphones and cameras are craning daily for a look at its silly walk, while mostly maintaining a respectful distance.
—
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Necks craning to the back of the hall, a hush fell over the small parochial church of Santa María Trinitá on the African island of São Tomé.
—
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
At large venues like the Paramount, late entries can mean watching from the upper balcony, craning toward the screen.
—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for craning
Verb
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Proponents say the workout’s minimal movements, like short sets of squats and lifting light weights, leave them with soreness but also increase their muscle.
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This mission will attempt to place a batch of CubeSats into orbit after lifting off from Andøya Spaceport in Norway.
Verb
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But a fresh start comes with plenty of new challenges — from rival ranchers and relentless cattle work to the unexpected trials of raising their teenage son, Carter (Finn Little).
-
SpaceX went public in June, raising roughly $75 billion in the largest IPO on record.
Verb
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With group play coming to a close and the Round of 32 approaching, the competition is heating up as teams look to punch their tickets to the knockout round in hopes of hoisting the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the final on Sunday, July 19.
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The black-and-white snapshots of sailors hoisting lines on deck look similar to the modern scenes still playing out today.
Verb
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The squad has won four matches in a row, elevating it for the first time in four decades to the competition’s round of 16.
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Since the Wright Brothers first took flight in 1903, the aerospace industry in particular has played a key role in elevating travel, commerce and defense, while helping to forge a national identity.
Cite this Entry
“Craning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/craning. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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