elation

American  

[ih-ley-shuhn] / ɪˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a feeling or state of great joy or pride; exultant gladness; high spirits.

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elation British  

/ ɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. joyfulness or exaltation of spirit, as from success, pleasure, or relief; high spirits

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Other Word Forms

• self-elation noun

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."

Example Sentences

Planning permission has now been granted and Harrison said he felt "absolute elation" getting approval to move forward, and they "came back and opened a bottle of Champagne with the staff" to celebrate.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Its elation masks the song’s bleak narrative: “Three a.m. it’s me again, wouldn’t you know / Things would have to end this way.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Life waxes and wanes between peace and tumult, elation and despair.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Still, news that the autocrat who separated them had been captured delivered a sense of long-awaited elation and united the siblings and cousins across continents for a rare four-hour phone call as the night unfolded.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

The source of his brittle elation was the relative smallness of his misfortune.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

Related Words

• bliss
• ecstasy
• enthusiasm
• euphoria
• excitement
• exhilaration
• glee
• joy
• jubilation
• rapture