elevation

[ el-uh-vey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the height to which something is elevated or to which it rises:

   The elevation of the tower is 80 feet.

   Antonyms: depth

2. the altitude of a place above sea level or ground level.
3. an elevated place, thing, or part; an eminence.

   Synonyms: plateau, mountain, hill, height

4. loftiness; grandeur or dignity; nobleness:

   elevation of mind.

   Synonyms: nobility, exaltation

5. the act of elevating:

   Her swift elevation to the chancellorship took no one by surprise.

6. the state of being elevated:

   She was fully enjoying her elevation to movie stardom.

7. Architecture. a drawing or design that represents an object or structure as being projected geometrically on a vertical plane parallel to one of its sides.
8. Surveying.
   1. angle of elevation ( def ).
   2. the distance above a datum level.
9. the ability of a dancer to stay in the air while executing a step or the height thus attained.
10. the Elevation, Roman Catholic Church. the lifting by the celebrant of the Eucharistic elements immediately after consecration, for adoration by the communicants.

elevation

/ ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of elevating or the state of being elevated
2. the height of something above a given or implied place, esp above sea level
3. a raised area; height
4. nobleness or grandeur; loftiness

   elevation of thought

5. a drawing to scale of the external face of a building or structure Compare plan ground plan
6. the external face of a building or structure
7. a ballet dancer's ability to leap high
8. RC Church the lifting up of the Host at Mass for adoration
9. astronomy another name for altitude
10. the angle formed between the muzzle of a gun and the horizontal
11. surveying the angular distance between the plane through a point of observation and an object above it Compare depression
12. linguistics another term for amelioration

elevation

/ ĕl′ə-vā′shən /

1. The vertical distance between a standard reference point, such as sea level, and the top of an object or point on the Earth, such as a mountain. At 8,850 m (29,028 ft), the summit of Mount Everest is the highest elevation on Earth.

Derived Forms

• ˌeleˈvational, adjective

Other Words From

• nonel·e·vation noun
• reel·e·vation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elevation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin ēlevātiōn- (stem of ēlevātiō ), equivalent to ēlevāt(us) “lifted, raised up” + -iōn- noun suffix; elevate, -ion

Synonym Study

See height.

Example Sentences

Any snow would therefore depend greatly on the precise track of the low pressure, the heaviness of the precipitation and the elevation of the land.

From BBC

Thune’s elevation signals a slight but meaningful check on the incoming MAGAfication of the federal government.

From Slate

The Age of Trump and his elevation back to the White House reflect a deep nihilism and despair.

From Salon

The Age of Trump and his elevation back to the White House reflect a deep nihilism and despair.

From Salon

So, his elevation to be India’s top judge in November 2022 was welcomed by senior lawyers, activists and citizens with many expressing a “strong hope that under his leadership the court will rise to greater heights”.

From BBC

Related Words

• altitude
• ascent
• mountain