What does loft mean?
A loft is an upper room or space, typically situated beneath the roof of a building. Historically, lofts were practical places for storing hay, grain, or other goods, but in modern English the word often refers to a converted space used as a home, studio, or workplace. As a verb, to loft something means to send it high into the air, a usage especially associated with golf and other sports. The word can also mean to convert a space into a loft. In contemporary usage, “loft” frequently carries a sense of spaciousness and design, particularly when describing converted warehouses, factories, or attics. It remains a useful word because it describes both a distinctive architectural space and the action of raising something high.
An upper room or space beneath the roof of a building, especially one used for storage or converted into living or working space.
"The bookshop occupies a converted loft above the market."
The word often suggests an open, spacious interior and is common for converted industrial buildings.
To convert a building or space into a loft, or to propel something high into the air.
"They lofted the old textile mill into apartments and studios."
The sporting sense, meaning to send a ball high, is especially common in golf and baseball.
The plural is used for multiple upper-floor spaces, buildings, or converted lofts.
"Several lofts in the district were originally used for textile storage."
A loft began as a practical place for storing hay, but today the word often suggests a stylish open-plan home made from an industrial building.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does loft come from?
The word comes from Old English lōft, meaning an upper chamber or the upper part of a building. It is related to forms in other Germanic languages, including Old Norse lopt and Middle Dutch lofte, and developed into the modern English noun for a room or space under a roof. The related adjective “lofty” and adverb “aloft” reflect the same older vocabulary, while the modern verb meaning “to raise high” developed from the noun’s spatial associations.
Related word forms
How loft is actually used
As a noun, “loft” commonly refers to an upper-floor room or a converted industrial space and may suggest openness, character, or residential use. In sports, especially golf, “loft” refers to the height or upward angle of a shot. The verb is less common in general use outside contexts involving conversion, construction, or launching an object.