adjective
-
high or elevated in rank, position, dignity, etc
-
elevated in character; noble; lofty
an exalted ideal
-
informal excessively high; inflated
he has an exalted opinion of himself
-
intensely excited; elated
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exalted
Explanation
Use the adjective exalted to describe something or someone that is raised in rank, value, or power. The exalted queen enjoyed regular processions in her honor and gifts sent from foreign lands. Exalted goes back to Latin exaltare, combining ex ("up") and altus ("high"). You may not have an exalted position at school — maybe you're even one of the peons who isn't going to have a full-page spread dedicated to their achievements in the yearbook — but you'll always have an exalted role in your family, where your quiet humor and up-for-everything attitude brings your siblings together.
Vocabulary lists containing exalted
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
An "August" Assortment: Words Worthy of Honor
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
She had an exalted view of her role as first lady, sometimes seeming to regard herself as a sort of deputy president.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
Hospitals, he observes, “have exalted missions, which can obscure the fact that they’re just as full of territorial jerks as investment banks.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
In that, he is in exalted company - Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher are the others.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
The former slave girl became a noblewoman in New Spain, but she didn’t have much time to enjoy her exalted status.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026
Captain Smith nods, and I wonder if he really does plan to be polite to the exalted gentlemen from here on in.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
![]()
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.