In gaming, a boost is help. A high-ranked player teams up with a low-ranked friend and carries them to a higher rank. The friend gets the win. The booster gets thanks, sometimes money. Boosting is controversial. It distorts the ranking system. A boosted player may end up in matches they cannot handle. Game companies ban it. But the demand is high. People want the badge without the grind.

The word also means a temporary increase in power. A power-up in a game boosts your speed or strength. A social media post can boost a brand. A cup of coffee boosts alertness. The common idea is lift. Something is raised, temporarily or permanently. In gaming, the boost is usually temporary. In ranking, it can be permanent. In life, it is often chemical.

Types of boosts

• Rank boost: carrying someone to a higher competitive tier.
• XP boost: doubling experience gain for a limited time.
• Speed boost: a temporary increase in movement.
• Signal boost: sharing a post to a wider audience.

Boosting is a gray market. Some see it as a service. Others see it as cheating. The game's rules decide. If a game allows playing with friends, boosting is hard to stop. If it bans account sharing, boosting becomes a violation. The word itself is neutral. The ethics depend on the context.