Uplift means to raise something up, either physically or in spirit. When construction workers uplift a heavy beam with a crane, they're lifting it higher. When a teacher's encouraging words uplift a discouraged student, they're raising that student's mood and confidence.

The word often describes making someone feel better, stronger, or more hopeful. An uplifting story might be about someone overcoming a challenge through determination. An uplifting song might make you feel energized and ready to tackle something difficult. When you're feeling down and a friend tells you something that makes you feel capable again, that friend has uplifted you.

Scientists also use uplift to describe geological processes where sections of the Earth's crust rise over millions of years, creating mountain ranges. The Rocky Mountains formed through tectonic uplift as plates beneath the Earth's surface pushed upward.

Whether you're talking about lifting someone's spirits, raising a physical object, or the slow rising of mountains, uplift always involves moving upward. The feeling of being uplifted is powerful: it's that moment when someone or something helps you rise above your doubts or difficulties.

As a noun, uplift can mean the act of lifting or raising, or the positive feeling that comes from being encouraged.