What does "elevation" mean?
The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher; said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice, etc.
Elevation
/ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃn̩/ noun
noun ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher; said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice, etc.
- Grammar: elevation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: altitude, height, raising, access.
- Useful contrasts: abasement, abasing, azimuth.
- Usage evidence: Melanoma's ABCDE stands for: Asymmetry, irregular borders, changing color, great diameter, and elevation above the skin.
How to use "elevation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "elevation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "elevation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "elevation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "elevation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "elevation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "altitude" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "elevation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a higher; said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice, etc. countable, uncountable
"elevation to a throne"
- 2 the act of increasing the wealth or prestige or power or scope of something wordnet
- 3 The condition of being or feeling elevated; heightened; exaltation. countable, uncountable
- 4 drawing of an exterior of a structure wordnet
- 5 That which is raised up or elevated; an elevated place or station. countable, uncountable
"A hill is an elevation of the ground."
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 (ballet) the height of a dancer's leap or jump wordnet
- 7 The distance of a celestial object above the horizon, or the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between it and the horizon; altitude. countable, uncountable
"the elevation of the pole, or of a star"
- 8 distance of something above a reference point (such as sea level) wordnet
- 9 The measured vertical distance from the peak of a mountain or hill to its bordering lowlands. countable, uncountable
- 10 the event of something being raised upward wordnet
- 11 The angle which the gnomon makes with the substylar line. countable, uncountable
- 12 a raised or elevated geological formation wordnet
- 13 The movement of the axis of a piece in a vertical plane; also, the angle of elevation, that is, the angle between the axis of the piece and the line of sight; distinguished from direction. countable, uncountable
- 14 angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object) wordnet
- 15 A geometrical projection of a building, or other object, on a plane perpendicular to the horizon; orthographic projection on a vertical plane; called by the ancients the orthography. countable, uncountable
- 16 the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development wordnet
- 17 The raising of the host—representing Christ’s body—in a mass or Holy Communion service. countable, uncountable
- 18 An opium mixture used in the Fens to improve the mood and prevent malaria. UK, obsolete, uncountable
"[…] many of the fen people used what they called "elevation." Farmer Porter was his informant concerning this habit. "What's elevation?" "Oh! ho! ho! — yow goo into druggist's shop o' market day into Cambridge, and you'll see the little boxes, doozens and doozens, a' ready on the counter; and never a ven-man's wife goo by, but what calls in for her pennord o' elevation, to last her out the week. […]"
Example
"Melanoma's ABCDE stands for: Asymmetry, irregular borders, changing color, great diameter, and elevation above the skin."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "elevation"?
Common synonyms include: altitude, height, raising, access, accession, acclivity.
How do you use "elevation" in a sentence?
Melanoma's ABCDE stands for: Asymmetry, irregular borders, changing color, great diameter, and elevation above the skin.
How do you pronounce "elevation"?
Pronounced /ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃn̩/.
Etymology
From Old French elevation, from Latin elevatio, equal to elevate + -ion.