exaltation

noun

ex·​al·​ta·​tion ˌeg-ˌzȯl-ˈtā-shən 

ˌek-ˌsȯl-

1

: an act of exalting : the state of being exalted

2

: an excessively intensified sense of well-being, power, or importance

3

: an increase in degree or intensity

exaltation of virulence of a virus

Examples of exaltation in a Sentence

feelings of joy and exaltation

Recent Examples on the Web

Of course, butter has long been a favorite food of many people—and, whether its being smoothed onto bread or melted into sauces, its exaltation isn’t exactly new. —Konstanze Popp, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2024

The exaltations from bullish investors will give him enough cover to continue to make misleading declarations about what is and isn’t autonomous. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2024

An exaltation of the summers of his youth, Bad Bunny’s fourth album also serves as a crash course in Caribbean musical syncretism, in which elements of reggaetón, trap, house, and Dominican mambo are craftily shaken and stirred. —Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024

Mao embraced these inclinations and pushed them to their extreme, encouraging absurd displays of exaltation from his subjects. —Dan Xin Huang, Foreign Affairs, 3 May 2019

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

exaltation

noun

ex·​al·​ta·​tion ˌeg-ˌzȯl-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act of exalting : the state of being exalted

2

: a greatly heightened sense of personal well-being, power, or importance

Medical Definition

exaltation

noun

ex·​al·​ta·​tion ˌeg-ˌzȯl-ˈtā-shən  ˌek-ˌsȯl- 

1

a

: marked or excessive intensification of a mental state or of the activity of a bodily part or function

b

: an abnormal sense of personal well-being, power, or importance : a delusional euphoria

2

: an increase in degree or intensity

exaltation of virulence of a virus