Evaluates software associated with lifts (9)
I believe the answer is:
appraises
'evaluates' is the definition.
('appraise' can be a synonym of 'evaluate')
'software associated with lifts' is the wordplay.
'software' becomes 'app' (software application).
'associated with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'lifts' becomes 'raises' (raising is a kind of lifting).
'app'+'raises'='APPRAISES'
(Other definitions for appraises that I've seen before include "Assesses" , "Rates" .)