ALOFT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does aloft mean? 

• ALOFT (adverb)
  The adverb ALOFT has 4 senses:

1. at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship

2. upward

3. at or to great height; high up in or into the air

4. in the higher atmosphere above the earth

  Familiarity information: ALOFT used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ALOFT (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

At or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship

Context example:

climbed aloft to unfurl the sail

Sense 2

Meaning:

Upward

Context example:

the good news sent her spirits aloft

Sense 3

Meaning:

At or to great height; high up in or into the air

Context example:

dust is whirled aloft

Sense 4

Meaning:

In the higher atmosphere above the earth

Context example:

weather conditions aloft are fine

 Context examples 

You'll bathe, and you'll climb trees, and you'll hunt goats, you will; and you'll get aloft on them hills like a goat yourself.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

This time I remained aloft, and Wolf Larsen succeeded in heaving to without being swept.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Then he had retreated with it to his room and slung it aloft.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The expression of the Count's face was so hellish, that for a moment I feared for Harker, though I saw him throw the terrible knife aloft again for another stroke.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

When I joined the Service, you would find a lieutenant gammoning and rigging his own bowsprit, or aloft, maybe, with a marlinspike slung round his neck, showing an example to his men.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

No one answered; but a form emerged from the closet; it took the light, held it aloft, and surveyed the garments pendent from the portmanteau.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

His bolt struck the stork just where its wing meets the body, and the bird whirled aloft in a last convulsive flutter before falling wounded and flapping to the earth.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In short,” said Mr. Micawber, with the old genteel air, “the probability is, all will be found so exciting, alow and aloft, that when the lookout, stationed in the main-top, cries Land-oh! we shall be very considerably astonished!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mr. Laurence looked so alarming and spoke so sharply that Jo would have gladly run away, if she could, but she was perched aloft on the steps, and he stood at the foot, a lion in the path, so she had to stay and brave it out.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

We would not get down our top-mast, but let all stand, because she scudded before the sea very well, and we knew that the top-mast being aloft, the ship was the wholesomer, and made better way through the sea, seeing we had sea-room.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)