This　paper　aims　to　investigate　the　uplift　behavior　coupled　with　the　non-linearity　both　in　material　properties　and　in　geometry　deformations　of　a　typical　gantry　crane　under　near-field　ground　motions.　First,　the　highly　nonlinear　and　time　variable　model　considering　the　uplift-available　boundary　condition　based　on　the　theory　of　Mohr-Coulomb　friction　is　established　of　the　gantry　crane　using　the　OpenSees　platform.　Then,　a　series　of　time-history　analyses　on　this　model　structure　is　performed　under　three　near-field　seismic　loadings　with　different　exceeding　probabilities.　Furthermore,　the　comparison　between　the　uplift-available　gantry　crane　and　the　fixed　crane　is　also　carried　out　to　provide　in-depth　insight　into　the　structural　responses　under　different　boundary　conditions.　Finally,　coupling　with　the　material　and　geometry　inelastic　behavior,　the　uplift　response　process　is　modeled　in　this　paper　and　the　seismic　incident　angle　from　0　up　to　360　degrees　is　also　examined　to　quantitatively　confirm　the　prioritization　of　uplift　event　and　the　other　inelastic　responses.　And　the　new　conception　of　uplift　probability　is　first　proposed　herein　to　reveal　the　nature　of　uncertainty.　It　is　found　that　uplift　behavior　plays　an　essential　role　in　designing　and　evaluating　the　seismic　performance　of　gantry　cranes;　further,　the　uplift　response　increases　the　seismic　demand　of　the　gantry　crane　structure　and　even　causes　collapse　under　strong　ground　motions.