elation
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of elation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English elacioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin ēlātiōn-, stem of ēlātiō “ceremonial carrying out, elevation, ecstasy”; equivalent to elate + -ion
Explanation
If you experience sudden very high spirits, possibly even a feeling of lightness, you are feeling great elation. Elation is more than mere happiness — it is extreme, exhilarating joy. It has a sense of rising or expanding, even to the point of light-headedness. To help remember it, think of the (unrelated) word inflation, which has a similar sound. When you inflate a tire, you pump it up. When you are filled with elation, you are also, in a sense, "pumped up."
Vocabulary lists containing elation
Emotions on Display
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"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Refugee
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The scenes in Kyiv contrasted with elation to the north, where 205 Ukrainian soldiers were freed in the latest POW exchange with Moscow.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
When a panel of expert judges announced its pick for “Best Bagel,” the crowd erupted with a mix of elation and disbelief.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
"It was just a clear timeline of where we were, how we've got here and the bad feelings you've had, but also the elation you've had," recalls Christie.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
Post-victory elation, however, was short-lived: In mid-2023, Calamia had to tirelessly defend their right to use testosterone, which they’d been taking since 2019 as part of their gender transition, to the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
He tilted back his head and gazed at it, new elation blooming in him.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
