Elevate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈe-lə-ˌvāt/ el·e·vate

Meaning & Definition of Elevate

Elevate (verb)

  1. to lift up or make higher, raise
  2. to raise in rank or status
  3. to improve morally, intellectually, or culturally

Elevate (adjective)

  1. elevated

Elevate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to fill with great joy

    "seeing their son ordained as a priest was one of the most elevating moments in their lives"

    similar: elate, enrapture, exhilarate, intoxicate, transport
    related: commove, excite, inspire, stimulate, uplift, content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, rejoice, satisfy, warm
    opposite: depress
    near: demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, distress, oppress, sadden

  2. to move from a lower to a higher place or position

    "the old trick of using a fat phone book to elevate a child to a more comfortable position at the table"

    similar: boost, crane, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise
    related: ascend, mount, rise, rear, upend
    opposite: drop, lower
    near: descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip, bear, depress, press, push, sink, submerge

  3. to move higher in rank or position

    "the announcement that the pope will elevate several prelates to the rank of cardinal"

    similar: advance, promote, raise, upgrade, kick upstairs
    related: forward, further, aggrandize, boost, heighten, improve, lift, uplift, commission, ennoble, knight, acclaim, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, exalt, extol, glorify, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute
    opposite: abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce
    near: depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat, demean, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, mortify, shame, take down, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate

  4. to assign a high status or value to

    "a decade in which greed and selfishness were elevated to the rank of virtues"

    similar: aggrandize, canonize, deify, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, exalt, glorify, magnify
    related: boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift, heighten, intensify, idealize, romanticize, sanitize, sugarcoat, acclaim, extol, honor, laud, praise
    opposite: abase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate
    near: belittle, decry, depreciate, detract, disparage, minimize

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Elevate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Elevate:

elate, enrapture, exhilarate, intoxicate, transport, boost, crane, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise, advance, promote, upgrade, aggrandize, canonize, deify, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, exalt, glorify, magnify, kick upstairs

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Elevate

Words with the opposite meaning of Elevate:

depress, drop, lower, abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, reduce, demean, humble, humiliate

Related Words for Elevate

commove, excite, inspire, stimulate, content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, rejoice, satisfy, warm, ascend, mount, rise, rear, upend, forward, further, improve, commission, knight, acclaim, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate

Near Antonyms of Elevate

demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, distress, oppress, sadden, descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip, bear, press, push, sink, submerge, depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat, disgrace, dishonor

Word Forms of Elevate

Inflections: elevated, elevating

Origin & Etymology of Elevate

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

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Elevate

Frequently Asked Questions about Elevate

What does "Elevate" mean?

"Elevate" means to lift up or make higher, raise. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to lift up or make higher, raise. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Elevate"?

Other words for "Elevate" include elate, enrapture, exhilarate, intoxicate, transport, boost, crane and heave. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Elevate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Elevate"?

There are 79 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Elevate". Common alternatives include elate, enrapture, exhilarate, intoxicate, transport, boost, crane, heave, heft and heighten.

What is the opposite of "Elevate"?

Antonyms of "Elevate" include depress, drop, lower, abase, degrade, demote, downgrade and reduce. Near antonyms include demoralize, discourage, dishearten and dispirit.

How do you use "Elevate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Elevate" in a sentence: "seeing their son ordained as a priest was one of the most elevating moments in their lives"; "the old trick of using a fat phone book to elevate a child to a more comfortable position at the table"; "the announcement that the pope will elevate several prelates to the rank of cardinal".

Is "Elevate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Elevate" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Elevate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Elevate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Elevate"?

"Elevate" is pronounced /ˈe-lə-ˌvāt/ and divided into syllables as el·e·vate.