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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

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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

Examples of elevate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The button-down cardigan top has deep, functional front pockets while the wide-leg pants have a simple, flat elastic waist that elevates their style beyond the casual drawstring waists of other lounge pants. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2024 Rob DeAngelis, who had formerly shared the co-head title with Slocum, has been elevated to chief revenue officer of CAA Sports and will now work across all 19 of the division’s units to look for ways to generate revenue. Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Oct. 2024 There is an example of the first Seiko Lord Marvel from 1959 which marked Seiko’s first real attempt at elevating its watches to a luxury level. David Flett, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2024 This nomination reflects her outstanding contributions on the field and acknowledges her impact in elevating women’s football in Zambia and beyond. Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024 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.

Thesaurus Entries Near elevate

Cite this Entry

“Elevate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elevate. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on elevate

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