Word
aloft
US/əˈɫɔft/
UK/ɐlˈɒft/
Adverb of place
Definition
adv. high up in the air or over your head. You often use it to describe things that are flying, floating, or being held up high.
adv. positioned or held at a great height; in the air or in flight. In a nautical context, it refers specifically to the area above the deck, such as in the rigging or on the masts.
Examples
“The eagle stayed aloft for hours without flapping its wings.”
“The crowd cheered as the winning captain held the silver trophy aloft for everyone to see.”
“The hot air balloon remained aloft by virtue of the burner's constant heat, drifting silently over the valley as the morning mist began to clear.”
Examples
simple
“The eagle stayed aloft for hours without flapping its wings.”
contextual
“The crowd cheered as the winning captain held the silver trophy aloft for everyone to see.”
complex
“The hot air balloon remained aloft by virtue of the burner's constant heat, drifting silently over the valley as the morning mist began to clear.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of a clause; often pairs with verbs of motion or position like 'hold', 'stay', or 'remain'.
Real-World Examples
“He set the machine aloft, and its camera captured the Honda, which had fallen three hundred and twenty feet—about the height of a thirty-story building.” “But there is also a cost—air friction requires satellites in this orbit to use an engine nearly constantly to stay aloft, which in turn requires fuel—typically expensive gases like xenon.” Etymology
From Old Norse á lopti (“in the sky”); equivalent to a- + loft.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/aloft