hoist

American  

[hoist, hahyst] / hɔɪst, haɪst /

verb (used with object)

1. to raise or lift, especially by some mechanical appliance.

   to hoist a flag; to hoist the mainsail.

   Synonyms:

   elevate

   Antonyms:

   lower

2. to raise to one's lips and drink; drink (especially beer or whiskey) with gusto.

   Let's go hoist a few beers.

3. Archaic. a simple past tense and past participle of hoise.

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noun

1. an apparatus for hoisting, as a block and tackle, a derrick, or a crane.

2. act of hoisting; a lift.

   Give that sofa a hoist at your end.

3. Nautical.

   1. the vertical dimension amidships of any square sail that is hoisted with a yard.

   2. the distance between the hoisted and the lowered position of such a yard.

   3. the dimension of a fore-and-aft sail along the luff.

   4. a number of flags raised together as a signal.

4. (on a flag)

   1. the vertical dimension as flown from a vertical staff.

   2. the edge running next to the staff.

idioms

1. hoist by / with one's own petard. petard.

hoist British  

/ hɔɪst /

verb

1. (tr) to raise or lift up, esp by mechanical means

2. See petard

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noun

1. any apparatus or device for hoisting

2. the act of hoisting

3. See rotary clothesline

4. nautical

   1. the amidships height of a sail bent to the yard with which it is hoisted Compare drop

   2. the difference between the set and lowered positions of this yard

5. nautical the length of the luff of a fore-and-aft sail

6. nautical a group of signal flags

7. the inner edge of a flag next to the staff Compare fly 1

Related Words

See raise.

Other Word Forms

• hoister noun
• unhoisted adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoist

First recorded in 1540–50; later variant of hoise, with -t as in against, etc.

Example Sentences

The mayor of Greenland's capital on Thursday called on media professionals and content creators to act responsibly after a failed attempt by a German comedian to hoist the US flag.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

He had pushed the nephew towards a branch so the nephew could hoist himself onto land; but the older man did not manage get back up himself, according to the report.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

You can’t hoist a record 17 WWE World Heavyweight Championship belts without winning a ton of matches, and Cena’s imperial era was full of matches where he eked out victory from an obvious defeat.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2025

Frantic, he helped his parents hoist his six younger siblings over a backyard fence as fireballs of ignited crude descended around their home, just across the street.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2025

In the morning we would rise shivering and rubbing arms, wordlessly repeat our small chores, fill and hoist our packs, and venture into the great entangling forest again.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• erect
• heave
• pick up