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elevate

[ verb el-uh-veyt; adjective el-uh-veyt, -vit ]
/ verb ˈɛl əˌveɪt; adjective ˈɛl əˌveɪt, -vɪt /
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See synonyms for: elevate / elevated / elevates / elevating on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), el·e·vat·ed, el·e·vat·ing.
to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up.
to raise to a higher state, rank, or office; exalt; promote: to elevate an archbishop to cardinal.
to raise to a higher intellectual or spiritual level: Good poetry may elevate the mind.
to raise the spirits; put in high spirits.
to raise (the voice) in pitch or volume.
adjective
Archaic. raised; elevated.
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Origin of elevate

1490–1500; <Latin ēlevātus lightened, lifted up (past participle of ēlevāre), equivalent to ē-e-1 + lev- light + -ātus-ate1

synonym study for elevate

2. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM elevate

non·el·e·vat·ing, adjectivere·el·e·vate, verb (used with object), re·el·e·vat·ed, re·el·e·vat·ing.

Words nearby elevate

Eleusinian mysteries, Eleusis, Eleuthera, Eleutherius, elev., elevate, elevated, elevated railroad, elevated railway, elevation, elevator
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT ELEVATE

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.

Where does elevate come from?

The first records of the term elevate come from around the 1490s. It comes from the Latin ēlevātus meaning “lightened” or “lifted up.”

Elevate is often used in philosophical or spiritual discussions, even casual conversations. In these situations, elevate is often used as a synonym for transcend and is a major part of several mindfulness or meditative philosophies that deal with ignoring or accepting physical worries and becoming relaxed or more calm as a result.

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What are some other forms related to elevate?

  • elevated (verb, adjective)
  • reelevate (verb)
  • nonelevating (adjective)
  • elevator (noun)

What are some synonyms for elevate?

What are some words that share a root or word element with elevate?

What are some words that often get used in discussing elevate?

How is elevate used in real life?

Elevate can be used literally or figuratively to mean to lift up.

 

Try using elevate!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for elevate?

A. raise
B. fall
C. heighten
D. uplift

Words related to elevate

heighten, raise, uplift, appoint, boost, build up, enhance, intensify, prefer, upgrade, excite, inspire, refine, erect, hoist, levitate, poise, pump, pyramid, ramp

How to use elevate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for elevate

elevate
/ (ˈɛlɪˌveɪt) /
verb (tr)

Derived forms of elevate

elevatory, adjective

Word Origin for elevate

C15: from Latin ēlevāre from levāre to raise, from levis (adj) light
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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