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Definition of deadlift

deadlift

/ˈdɛd.lɪft/
dead · lift
Plural:deadlifts
•
Past Simple:deadlifted
•
Past Participle:deadlifted
•
Present Participle:deadlifting
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deadlift Lexical Profile

deadlift Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A weight-training exercise and competitive powerlifting event in which a loaded barbell or weight is lifted directly off the floor to the level of the hips with the torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground.

Example

"Incorporating the deadlift into her weekly training routine significantly improved her lower-back and hamstring strength."

• verb

1

To lift a weight directly from the floor to hip level using the technique of a deadlift, or to perform the deadlift exercise.

Example

"After months of consistent coaching, he was able to deadlift twice his body weight with proper form."

• Nearby Words

deadening
deadeye
deadhead
deadlift
deadline
deadliness
deadlock

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed as a compound of "dead" (in the sense of "dead weight," referring to a stationary load lifted without initial momentum) and "lift." The term emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of modern strength training and competitive powerlifting.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Deadlift. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/deadlift
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