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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 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 elevate By the 1990s, Stewart was the center of a multimedia empire, the embodiment of a massively lucrative brand that was all centered on a lifestyle so elevated that no one besides Stewart herself could ever possibly achieve it. Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024 Executive Director of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and 2018 World Food Prize laureate, Lawrence Haddad— heralded for elevating child and maternal nutrition in the hunger agenda— puts it bluntly. Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 But Nevada, despite being the smallest prize among the seven battlegrounds, is still a huge state, and the new tech platform stands to elevate Aguilar’s profile, in good ways or bad. Philip Elliott, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024 The following day, Australian officials are expected to hold their cash rate target at 4.35% after consumer inflation stayed elevated in the three months through September, cementing notions that policymakers will have to wait before pivoting. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for elevate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elevate
Verb
  • On the other hand, doves and whitewings excite me only mildly.
    Jack O’Connor, Outdoor Life, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Freitas said he was encouraged and excited with the results, adding that voters have decided for a clean sweep to make positive changes in the city.
    Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • How much weight a child can lift is far less important than teaching them good movement patterns.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024
  • The officer and the man continue to argue, and the driver lifts an index finger up to his mouth, as if gesturing for the officer to be quiet.
    Antonio Planas, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Lam, a long time Milpitas resident, is hoping to promote public safety in the city and wants to prioritize financial transparency and accountability on the council.
    Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Harris' own agenda was more nuanced, promoting moves to combat price gouging and put in place programs to help small businesses and first-time homebuyers.
    Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • At the company’s annual sales conference, a mammoth extravaganza at Disney World, teamwork was exalted in music, skits, speeches, on shirts, on hats, and on every trinket imaginable.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
  • Still Burns Here; the impact of that looms greatly on this record, which exalts the body in all its possibilities and inherent limitations.
    Pitchfork, Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • But hearing those very industrial and harsh sounds for the first time was such an elating feeling.
    Justin Curto, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2024
  • All those probed were in unanimous agreement, and the 21-year-old might agree himself alongside others that have been elated by his start to the 2024/2025 season.
    Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Loading your audio article California air quality regulators late Friday approved a plan to strengthen limits on the planet-warming emissions from gasoline and diesel fuels, a move expected to raise gas prices while bringing public health benefits.
    Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • The company has established an at-the-market equity program to sell up to US$250 million of common shares, raising gross proceeds of $138,476,000 during the six months ended September 30, 2024.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Recognizing the issue, over the summer, the Federal Highway Administration published guidance and held a webinar highlighting dozens of federal funding programs available to upgrade legacy highways.
    David Zipper, Vox, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Disneyland adds Coco and Encanto shows for the Christmas holidays Disney+ subscribers can upgrade the ticket package with parkhopper or Lightning Lane options at additional costs.
    Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 12 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • These days, college football can look more like the vast military industrial complex than any ennobling pursuit.
    Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
  • And, second, that ownership of great literature in its most talismanic form will ennoble you.
    Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near elevate

Cite this Entry

“Elevate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elevate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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