weightlifting

American  

[weyt-lif-ting] / ˈweɪtˌlɪf tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act, art, or sport of lifting barbells of given poundages in a prescribed manner, as a competitive event or conditioning exercise.

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weightlifting British  

/ ˈweɪtˌlɪftɪŋ /

noun

1. the sport of lifting barbells of specified weights in a prescribed manner for competition or exercise

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Other Word Forms

• weightlifter noun

Etymology

Origin of weightlifting

First recorded in 1895–1900; weight + lift ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

The sport in which athletes compete to see who can hold the heaviest barbells is called weightlifting. To participate in weightlifting, you need a lot of upper-body strength. In the Olympics, weightlifting is an event in which competitors heft enormous, heavy barbells up over their heads and attempt to hold them there. These barbells are stacked with weighted plates and can be as heavy as 250 pounds. Weightlifting requires powerful arm, back, and shoulder muscles, whether it's done competitively in the Olympics or as part of strength training for other sports.

Example Sentences

“Surely, Coach, you can find a better punishment? An hour of weightlifting or 10 loops running around the stadium … Come on.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 30, 2026

Fields competed in a weightlifting competition last weekend.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

Youth women’s soccer, alongside weightlifting and table tennis, is something of an athletic arbitrage for cash-strapped North Korea.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender women to compete at an Olympics after being selected for the women's weightlifting team at Tokyo 2020.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025

We steer clear of archery and weightlifting though, wanting to save those for our private sessions.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins