elevate

1 of 2

verb

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

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 of elevate

Relevance

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Sovereign debt loads are already elevated across much of the world, and refinancing maturing debt at higher rates will progressively increase interest costs and strain public finances. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 Le Rendez-Vous was created to help elevate the profile of French jewelry and fine jewelry within Paris and globally — while simultaneously positioning jewelry in the center of the city’s creative industry. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026 Best Gear Deals From sleeping comfortably under the stars to enjoying a hot cup of coffee at sunrise, the right gear can elevate any camping trip, and REI’s sale is packed with worthwhile upgrades. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026 With a solid training camp and preseason, rookie Emmett Johnson elevated himself to second on the depth chart. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elevate

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

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elevate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for elevate

See All Rhymes for elevate

Browse Nearby Words

elev
elevate
elevated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elevate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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

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