levitate

verb lev·i·tate \ ˈle-və-ˌtāt \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Examples: levitate in a Sentence

Definition of levitate

levitated; levitating

intransitive verb

: to rise or float in or as if in the air especially in seeming defiance of gravitation

transitive verb

: to cause to levitate

See levitate defined for English-language learners

See levitate defined for kids

Examples of levitate in a Sentence

The woman levitated above the stage.
The magician claimed he could levitate a car.

Recent Examples of levitate from the Web

The helicopter will attempt to fly through the Martian air to see if vehicles can even levitate on Mars, where the atmosphere is 100 times thinner than that of Earth.

— loren grush, The Verge, "The Mars Helicopter is happening, y’all," 11 May 2018
The Dome, contrary to prediction, didn’t actually levitate from all the love being ladled around.

— craig hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, "The story of the 15-year-old guru who came to the Astrodome to save the world," 12 Apr. 2018
The main wing, a modified glass box, overhangs the foundation and appears to levitate.

— maureen c. gilmer, Indianapolis Star, "They didn't have the highest bid for dream home, but a simple letter sealed the deal," 25 May 2018
Backlit by a bewitching blend of blue and soft yellow, the crucifix seems to levitate.

— lily janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Shesus’ lives — and rocks — in Ray of Light’s ‘Superstar’," 19 May 2018
Ultron recruits Quicksilver—who is super fast—and Scarlett Witch—who has vague, ever-changing mind control and levitating powers.

— eliana dockterman, Time, "Avengers: Infinity War Is Almost Here. Here’s What to Know About the Marvel Cinematic Universe Before You Go," 23 Apr. 2018
The finished volume is a funky panoply of arabesques, polygons and polyhedra, a fantasy of spikes, spines and spires, left levitating in white space or emerging spectrally from backgrounds dark as night.

— christoph irmscher, WSJ, "‘The Art and Science of Ernst Haeckel’ Review: The Zoologist as Artist," 13 Apr. 2018
But, in person, Flyte demonstrates where all of these levitating products go wrong.

— jacob kastrenakes, The Verge, "Levitating gadgets will disappoint you," 12 Apr. 2018
In García Márquez’s novels angels fall to Earth and become carnival attractions, magic carpets fly and priests levitate.

— laignee barron, Time, "Today is Gabriel García Márquez's 91st Birthday. What to Know About the Master of Magical Realism," 6 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'levitate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of levitate

levity

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1673

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

LEVITATE Defined for English Language Learners

levitate

verb

Definition of levitate for English Language Learners

: to rise or make (something) rise into the air in a way that appears to be magical

LEVITATE Defined for Kids

levitate

verb lev·i·tate \ ˈle-və-ˌtāt \

Definition of levitate for Students

levitated; levitating

: to rise or make rise up in the air

Word Root of levitate

The Latin word levis, meaning “lightweight,” gives us the root lev. Words from the Latin levis have something to do with being light in weight. To levitate is to be so light as to rise up into the air. To elevate is to lift something up to a higher level as if it is lightweight. A lever is a bar used to help lift something up by making it feel lighter than it is.