elevate

[el-uh-veyt, el-uh-veyt, -vit]

verb (used with object)

elevated, elevating 

1. to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up.

   Synonyms: hoist, lift

2. to raise to a higher state, rank, or office; exalt; promote.

   to elevate an archbishop to cardinal.

   Synonyms: dignify, upgrade, advance

3. to raise to a higher intellectual or spiritual level.

   Good poetry may elevate the mind.

4. to raise the spirits; put in high spirits.

5. to raise (the voice) in pitch or volume.

adjective

1. Archaic.,  raised; elevated.

elevate

/ ˈɛlɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. to move to a higher place

2. to raise in rank or status; promote

3. to put in a cheerful mood; elate

4. to put on a higher cultural plane; uplift

   to elevate the tone of a conversation

5. to raise the axis of a gun

6. to raise the intensity or pitch of (the voice)

7. RC Church to lift up (the Host) at Mass for adoration

Other Word Forms

• nonelevating adjective
• reelevate verb (used with object)
• elevatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of elevate¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin ēlevātus “lightened, lifted up,” past participle of ēlevāre “to lift up,” from ē- e- ¹ + levāre “to lighten, lift”; relieve

Word History and Origins

Origin of elevate¹

C15: from Latin ēlevāre from levāre to raise, from levis (adj) light

Synonym Study

Elevate, enhance, exalt, heighten mean to raise or make higher in some respect. To elevate is to raise something up to a higher level, position, or state: to elevate the living standards of a group. To enhance is to add to the attractions or desirability of something: Landscaping enhances the beauty of the grounds. To exalt is to raise very high in rank, character, estimation, mood, etc.: A king is exalted above his subjects. To heighten is to increase the strength or intensity: to heighten one's powers of concentration.

Example Sentences

Health studies have offered differing conclusions on whether residents experienced elevated illness rates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Pandya expects discounts to remain elevated through today, which retailers call Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year.

Read more on Barron's

“We expect 2026 to be defined by elevated T-bill issuance and steady coupon supply, driven by persistent large deficits and volatile tariff revenues,” the strategists say.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Their many shapes, ranging from geometric enclosures to long elevated fields, indicate that there was no single standardized design.

Read more on Science Daily

Too much linoleic acid can result in elevated oxylipin levels, which are tied to inflammation and fat buildup.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• appoint 
• boost 
• build up 
• enhance 
• heighten 
• intensify 
• prefer 
• upgrade 

When To Use

What does elevate mean?

To elevate something is to move it to a higher position or to lift it up, as in The mechanic elevated the car on a lift so she could work underneath it.Literally, to elevate means to move something to a higher plane. This is normally used in reference to machines or vehicles made to raise something or to lift up something like a ceiling or shelf.Elevate is more commonly used figuratively, meaning to go up in status, value, office, or something else that is measured from low to high. For example, if you become captain of your basketball team, you are elevated to the role of captain.Elevate also means to move feelings from negative to positive or to increase the positivity of feelings. If you’re feeling sad, you might try to elevate your feelings to happiness by taking a hike or going out with friends.Example: I will be elevated to the rank of vice president by the end of the year.