elevate
Americanverb (used with object)
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elevates,
present (3rd person singular)
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elevated,
past participle, past
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elevating
present participle
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to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up.
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to raise to a higher state, rank, or office; exalt; promote.
to elevate an archbishop to cardinal.
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to raise to a higher intellectual or spiritual level.
Good poetry may elevate the mind.
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to raise the spirits; put in high spirits.
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to raise (the voice) in pitch or volume.
adjective
verb
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to move to a higher place
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to raise in rank or status; promote
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to put in a cheerful mood; elate
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to put on a higher cultural plane; uplift
to elevate the tone of a conversation
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to raise the axis of a gun
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to raise the intensity or pitch of (the voice)
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RC Church to lift up (the Host) at Mass for adoration
Usage
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.
Synonym Usage
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 Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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elevatesimple
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elevatessimple
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have elevatedperfect
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has elevatedperfect
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am elevatingprogressive
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are elevatingprogressive
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is elevatingprogressive
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have been elevatingperfect progressive
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has been elevatingperfect progressive
Past
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elevatedsimple
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had elevatedperfect
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was elevatingprogressive
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were elevatingprogressive
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had been elevatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of elevate
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”; see relieve
Explanation
To elevate is to lift up, either literally or figuratively. One way to elevate your mood is to exercise and elevate your heart rate. But if you exercise too hard and sprain your ankle, you might have to elevate it by propping it on a pillow. An elevator elevates you: it carries you to a higher floor in a building. Elevate can also mean to raise something to a higher intellectual level, as when an informed speaker elevates the level of debate about an issue. A boss can elevate, or promote, a worker to a better position. For example, a restaurant manager might elevate a superb busboy to the position of waiter. Elevate comes from Latin elevates, which means “to raise” or even "to lighten.”
Vocabulary lists containing elevate
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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.
See Examples For:
I can’t stand all this plastic trash we elevate above the natural world.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
The contrasting styles and materials of the individual elements elevate each work into an invigorating whole—a pensive portrait, for example, is given a frisson of danger thanks to the spiky crab shells that surround it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Klopp's style helps to elevate all the members of his squad - not just the most talented.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
A new bill aims to secure U.S. supply chains and elevate the Commerce Department to lead national quantum policy.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
Now that I was going to wear red, white, and blue in competitions, I felt even more pressure to elevate my skills and become the best fencer I could.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
It elevates sea-surface temperatures across the eastern Pacific, fueling hurricanes that send big swells to south-facing beaches.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
By making intentional decisions aligned with your goals and values, leading an active social life and contributing to a cause that elevates your spirit, you’re bound to feel more happy and fulfilled.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
"It's a very common strategy for brands to use. It elevates the desirability," she says.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Through all of the murky questions about the differences between power and glory, decency and impropriety, De Palma lands on a remarkable base of human connection that elevates “Blow Out” beyond the average thriller.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
She values my success in school, but only because it elevates her social status.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
With both elevated ozone and high concentrations of terpenes present, nanoparticle production became even more intense.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
During haze, orangutans show signs of fat breakdown despite eating more and resting more, suggesting elevated energy demands likely from an immune system forced to work harder, it said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
“If bond yields stay elevated or continue to rise and stay there for an extended period of time, that could weigh on both stocks and growth,” Mahajan said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Those who watched at home saw a China elevated in status.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Mr. Choi, the village leader, and a few of the elders sat with Doha’s father on the elevated porch at the other end of the L-shaped house.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
“The latest advancements in AI are elevating cybersecurity to the top of the CIO priority list,” CEO Nikesh Arora said in a statement.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
“While we believe all artists have creative choice in determining how they present themselves, Spotify’s programming is focused on elevating music from authentic artists building careers in music,” the company said .
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Leslie Vooris shares some recommendations for elevating your drinking experience by investing in fancy glassware.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
But Neff said elevating an AI Minister to cabinet at least sent a signal the Prime Minister was "serious about having someone serious in this key role".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
While I was driving back to Johannesburg, the Free State scenery did not have quite the same elevating effect on me as before.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
