Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

elevate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of elevate

1 to fill with great joy
  • Seeing their son graduate from college was one of the most elevating moments in their lives.
Synonyms of elevate

elate, enrapture, exhilarate, intoxicate, transport
Words Related to elevate

commove, excite, inspire, stimulate, uplift

content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, rejoice, satisfy, warm
Near Antonyms of elevate

demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

distress, oppress, sadden
Antonyms of elevate

depress
2 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 of elevate

boost, crane, heave, heft, heighten, hike, hoist, jack (up), lift, perk (up), pick up, raise, take up, up, uphold, uplift, upraise
Words Related to elevate

ascend, mount, rise

rear, upend
Near Antonyms of elevate

descend, dip, fall, pitch, plunge, slip

bear, depress, press, push

sink, submerge
Antonyms of elevate

drop, lower
3 to move higher in rank or position
  • She was elevated to department chair.
Synonyms of elevate

advance, promote, raise, upgrade
Words Related to elevate

forward, further

aggrandize, boost, heighten, improve, lift, uplift

commission, ennoble, knight

acclaim, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate

eulogize, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute
Phrases Synonymous with elevate

kick upstairs
Near Antonyms of elevate

depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat

demean, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, mortify, shame, take down

censure, condemn, denounce
Antonyms of elevate

abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce
4 to assign a high status or value to
  • a decade in which greed and selfishness were elevated to the rank of virtues
Synonyms of elevate

aggrandize, canonize, deify, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, enthrone, exalt, glorify, magnify
Words Related to elevate

boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift

heighten, intensify

idealize, romanticize, sanitize, sugarcoat

acclaim, extol (also extoll), honor, laud, praise
Near Antonyms of elevate

belittle, decry, depreciate, detract, disparage, minimize
Antonyms of elevate

abase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about elevate

  1. See words that rhyme with elevate Dictionary: Definition of elevate Spanish Central: Translation of elevate Nglish: Translation of elevate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of elevate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up elevate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games