Synonym Chooser

How does the noun elevation contrast with its synonyms?

The words altitude and height are common synonyms of elevation. While all three words mean "vertical distance either between the top and bottom of something or between a base and something above it," altitude and elevation apply to height as measured by angular measurement or atmospheric pressure; altitude is preferable when referring to vertical distance above the surface of the earth or above sea level; elevation is used especially in reference to vertical height on land.

fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters
Denver is a city with a high elevation

When can height be used instead of elevation?

The words height and elevation can be used in similar contexts, but height refers to something measured vertically whether high or low.

a wall two meters in height

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 elevation The telescope complex sits at an elevation of about 7,000 feet (2,100 meters). Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025 With the Panthers dealing with multiple injuries elsewhere, those two elevations could be used on different positions on the roster. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 31 Oct. 2025 Days are long; elevations are vicious. Lucy Kehoe, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025 Snow may disrupt travel in a few northern areas—northern New England, the Upper Midwest, the higher elevations in the Intermountain West, and Alaska. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elevation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elevation
Noun
  • Andy Jones What the data says Burnley’s promotion was built on a strong defensive foundation, but that stability has quickly evaporated against Premier League opposition.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • From iconic festival to global tour promotion for superstar artists, to some of the most iconic and well-known venues, AEG Presents is a world leader in the music and entertainment industry.
    Kristen Wisneski, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Later, from the top of a steep and very beautiful hill where he is buried, everyone came down to the road except my mother and a friend of my father’s named Arnie.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • That's a steep hill to climb for Behn, who seeks to flip the district.
    Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Barcelona used a mix of zonal and man-marking but struggled when teams exploited their comparalative lack of height and physicality by using players in motion.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • These ones have a lug sole that offers extra height and more room for cushioned support.
    Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But while the trajectory is indubitable, the ascent is far from smooth, as Ghana’s recent experiences neatly encapsulate.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
  • But that backfired too, turbocharging the country’s technological ascent.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wong opts for a Belgian-style waffle, with deep cups ready to absorb the golf-ball-sized mound of sambal-honey butter on top.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The score was just 2-2 at the start of the inning, and Dodgers' two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell was on the mound.
    Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That’s because when high-altitude clouds of sulfur dioxide eventually form sulfuric acid, the resulting acid rain will help destroy the forests, jungles, crops, tigers, penguins, and reindeer that SAI was supposed to protect.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The avalanche ravaged the base camp, which is located at an altitude of 4,900 meters, or 16,070 feet.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Achieving quick, consistent self-assembly in solution without evaporation has remained a significant difficulty, despite advancements in block copolymer templating, metal alkoxide chemistry, and nanomaterials.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The designers also wanted to pay homage to the technology that makes an advancement like this possible.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Weather has been deteriorating since last week in Nepal, with snowstorms reported on the mountains, the Associated Press reported.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Yonah Mountain Vineyards also pays homage to the iconic mountain by emblazoning its wine bottles and glasses with a bear symbol.
    Crystal Tate, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elevation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elevation. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on elevation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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