What does lifting mean?
Lifting is the act of raising a person, object, or load from a lower position or taking it upward. The word commonly refers to physical effort, especially the use of the arms or mechanical equipment: people lift weights, cranes lift cargo, and workers lift heavy materials. It also has figurative uses. A government may lift a ban, an organization may lift restrictions, and good news may lift someone's spirits or mood. In these contexts, lifting suggests the removal of something that impedes movement, access, confidence, or enjoyment. The related noun lift is generally preferred when referring to one upward movement or the device used to raise someone or something, while lifting often describes an ongoing activity or the broader process. As a present participle, it also appears before nouns such as equipment, techniques, and exercises, forming phrases that describe the equipment, method, or field involved.
To raise a person or object from a lower position, take a load upward, or remove a restriction or prohibition.
"Two workers were lifting the crate onto the truck."
When used as a present participle, lifting can describe an activity in progress or form compounds such as lifting equipment and lifting technique.
The act or process of raising, loading, or transporting something upward.
"The lifting of the artwork required specialized equipment."
The noun is less common than the verb and is often used in technical, industrial, or formal contexts.
The plural is grammatical but uncommon; singular lift is usually preferred for a single act of raising.
"The repeated liftings of the flag marked each ceremonial arrival."
A weight can be lifted with your arms, a ban with a pen, and the spirits with good news.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lifting come from?
The form lifting is a regular English gerund and present participle formed from lift plus the suffix -ing. The base word comes through Middle English from Old English usage and was also influenced by Old Norse, where lyft refers to the action of raising. Its Germanic relatives include forms associated with raising, air, and elevation, while the later English noun lifting developed independently as a name for the act of lifting.
Related word forms
How lifting is actually used
The word is neutral in register and common in both formal and informal English. As a noun, it is less frequent than the related verb lift and often suggests an activity, process, or field of work, as in lifting equipment.