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aloft

/əˈlɔft/
/əˈlɒft/
IPA guide

Something up in the air or really high is aloft. Aloft has a soft, floaty sound to it, and it's a great word for talking about flying birds, airborne ballet dancers, and soaring spitballs.

Things that are above or overhead are aloft, and they can be flying free or lifted up. Frisbees are aloft when they cut through the air, and your hands are aloft when you hold them high to catch a Frisbee. Some things are stationary, or set in place, and aloft, like tree houses and birds' nests. You might feel suspended in time as you catch air on your bike, aloft over the ground — until you hit pavement reality three seconds later.

Definitions of aloft
  1. adverb
    at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
    “climbed aloft to unfurl the sail”
  2. adverb
    at or to great height; high up in or into the air
    “eagles were soaring aloft
    “dust is whirled aloft
  3. adverb
    in the higher atmosphere above the earth
    “weather conditions aloft are fine”
  4. adverb
    upward
    “the good news sent her spirits aloft
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘aloft'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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