elevate

1 of 2

verb

el·​e·​vate ˈe-lə-ˌvāt How to pronounce elevate (audio)
elevated; elevating
Synonyms of elevatenext

transitive verb

1
: to lift up or make higher : raise
elevate a patient's leg
exercises that elevate the heart rate
2
: to raise in rank or status
was elevated to chairman
3
: to improve morally, intellectually, or culturally
great books that both entertain and elevate their readers
4
: to raise the spirits of : elate

intransitive verb

: to become elevated : rise
his voice elevated to a shout

elevate

2 of 2

adjective

el·​e·​vate ˈe-lə-ˌvāt How to pronounce elevate (audio)
-vət
archaic
: elevated

Synonyms

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for elevate

lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost mean to move from a lower to a higher place or position.

lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

Examples of elevate in a Sentence

Verb exercises that elevate the heart rate seeing their son ordained as a priest was one of the most elevating moments in their lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Leading the culinary experience at Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge is Executive Chef Gus Trejo, whose commitment to sourcing local ingredients elevates every meal. —Noel Burgess, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Elon Musk gave another $56 million to elect Donald Trump and other Republicans in the final weeks of the 2024 election, bringing to at least $132 million the amount spent by the world’s richest person to elevate his allies to the White House and Congress, federal filings show. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The earnest lyrics get elevate by rippling guitars, shining production and the duo’s smooth harmonies. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2023 There are fewer opportunities for defensive linemen to see the field given how college football is played these days, and rushing the passer helps players get elevate. —Michael Casagrande | [email protected], al, 28 Aug. 2021 See all Example Sentences for elevate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elevate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin elevatus, past participle of elevare, from e- + levare to raise — more at lever

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elevate was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near elevate

elev

elevate

elevated

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Elevate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevate. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

elevate

verb
el·​e·​vate
ˈel-ə-ˌvāt
elevated; elevating
1
: to lift up or make higher : raise
2
: to raise in rank or importance
3
: to improve the mind or spirits of
Etymology

Verb

Latin elevatus, past participle of elevare "to lift up," from e- "away" and levare "to raise" — related to lever

More from Merriam-Webster on elevate

Nglish: Translation of elevate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of elevate for Arabic Speakers

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