elevate

verb

ˈe-lə-ˌvāt How to pronounce elevate (audio)
Definition of elevatenext
1
as in to excite
to fill with great joy seeing their son ordained as a priest was one of the most elevating moments in their lives

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lift
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to promote
to move higher in rank or position the announcement that the pope will elevate several prelates to the rank of cardinal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to exalt
to assign a high status or value to a decade in which greed and selfishness were elevated to the rank of virtues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb elevate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of elevate are boost, heave, hoist, lift, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When could boost be used to replace elevate?

The words boost and elevate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

In what contexts can heave take the place of elevate?

Although the words heave and elevate have much in common, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When is hoist a more appropriate choice than elevate?

In some situations, the words hoist and elevate are roughly equivalent. However, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

When can lift be used instead of elevate?

The words lift and elevate can be used in similar contexts, but lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

Where would raise be a reasonable alternative to elevate?

While the synonyms raise and elevate are close in meaning, raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How are the words rear and raise related as synonyms of elevate?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of elevate That’s a trend that started with millennials and has been fully embraced — and elevated — by Gen Z. Today’s drinkers don’t want overly boozy, bitter drinks that knock them on their butt. —Dylan Fusco, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025 Watson elevated the black top and blue jeans formula with her styling, accessorizing with a pair of chunky black boots and dangling, shoulder-grazing earrings. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 June 2025 There are even aromatherapy options available for purchase to elevate your shower experience. —Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 26 May 2025 The move is expected to elevate the importance of the State Department and Pentagon in advising Trump on important foreign policy moves. —Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for elevate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elevate
  1. excite
  2. lift
  3. promote
  4. exalt
  5. elate
  6. raise
  7. upgrade
  8. ennoble
Verb
  • Ideas about home repairs or ways to expand your home will excite you.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 June 2025
  • There, the particles excite gas and molecules in Earth's atmosphere, creating various colors depending on which gas is in the atmosphere.
    — Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of excite
Verb
  • But after President Joseph R. Biden Jr. lifted the bans in January 2021, travel from those countries — and from Chad, Libya and Yemen — more than rebounded.
    — Allison McCann, New York Times, 5 June 2025
  • But the restrictions haven’t been lifted, causing intense displeasure inside the Trump administration and prompting a recent series of measures imposed on China, three administration officials told CNN last week.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 4 June 2025
Definition of lift
Verb
  • Pollard was promoted to be executive vice president in 1980 and then president and chief operating officer in 1981 before he was named ServiceMaster’s CEO in 1983, succeeding Wessner.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
  • Drink Plenty of Water Drinking water may promote weight loss, but more research is needed.
    — Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
Definition of promote
Verb
  • Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, lauded the president’s efforts and exalted the two nations’ longstanding trade and foreign policy ties.
    — Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 8 May 2025
  • The awards are designed to make adolescents feel just exalted enough to say yes while still extracting the maximum number of dollars from each family.
    — Ana Swanson, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Definition of exalt
Verb
  • And the reason this is elating to watch — in the way that a movie about the making of almost any other movie might not be — is that there’s barely any separation between the film Godard is making and what’s happening off camera.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 May 2025
  • Some people are not going to be elated by every provision of the bill.
    — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 6 May 2025
Definition of elate
Verb
  • Stay hydrated: Since dry mouth raises gum disease risk, make sure to drink plenty of water.
    — Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
  • But the inclusion of migrants, the vast majority of whom were not listed in CBP data as having been accused of any felonies, raises deeper questions about what kind of data belongs in a criminal database.
    — Dhruv Mehrotra, Wired News, 29 May 2025
Definition of raise
Verb
  • One pharmaceutical company saw its reported footprint drop 50% after upgrading its data, without any actual operational change.
    — Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • More renovations were completed in advance of this year’s season, this time focused on upgrading the clubhouse.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Definition of upgrade
Verb
  • Homer himself uses natural metaphors to ennoble violent human actors: Achilles is a wildfire sweeping across the Trojan plain.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Its main focus is ennobling the essence of lava as a driving force for innovation in a contemporary age, as well as celebrating its centuries-old Neapolitan craftsmanship that has led to the creation of scenographic spaces, settings and projects.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of ennoble

Browse Nearby Words

elephants
elevate
elevated
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Cite this Entry

“Elevate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elevate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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