What does hoisted mean?
Hoisted is the past tense and past participle of hoist, a verb meaning to raise, lift, or move something upward. It often implies effort or the use of a pulley, crane, winch, or other mechanical device, as in hoisting cargo or a steel beam. The word can also mean increased or elevated: a price may be hoisted, or a value may be hoisted to a new level. In general use, hoisted describes something that has been deliberately raised into a higher position. The form is especially associated with practical, physical contexts such as shipping, construction, warehouses, and maritime work, but it is also used figuratively in economic and administrative language. Its regular opposite is lowered. As a past form, it appears after auxiliary verbs in perfect constructions, such as “has been hoisted,” and in the phrase “was hoisted.”
verbRaised, lifted, or moved upward, especially using mechanical equipment or considerable effort. It is the past tense and past participle of hoist.
- Raised, lifted, or moved upward.
- Raised or pulled upward using a mechanical device, pulley, crane, or similar equipment.
- Increased or elevated, especially a value, price, or level.
"The crew hoisted the supplies onto the ship before the storm arrived."
"The workers hoisted the steel beams into position."
"The company hoisted prices in response to higher costs."
"A flag was hoisted above the building at sunrise."
From ships to construction cranes, the word hoisted captures the controlled upward movement of something that would be difficult to lift by hand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hoisted come from?
The word derives from the older verb hoist, which came from a Germanic root related to the words hoist and hoy, meaning to lift or raise. The verb has long been used in maritime and mechanical contexts for raising cargo, sails, flags, and other loads with pulleys or lifting devices. The form hoisted is the regular past tense and past participle formed by adding the historical -ed ending.
Related word forms
How hoisted is actually used
The form is used as the past tense and past participle of hoist. It is especially common in contexts involving lifting equipment, shipping, construction, and rigging.
Easily confused with hoisted
Hoist is the base verb meaning to raise or lift, while hoisted is its past tense and past participle.