elevate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "elevate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to mean "to raise to a higher level or position" or "to cause to be of greater importance". For example, "His speech in front of the UN elevated his status as a global leader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our beliefs can elevate and inspire, and well-policed secularism – a version of secularism that doesn't itself become an alternative set of rigid, aggressive beliefs – could help us to do both.

The Guardian - Opinion

Lukaku has, however, proved vital to his loan clubs West Brom and Everton, using his power, cleverness and finishing skills to elevate them to higher levels while on loan – and insists he is content to bide his time and make an impact at Stamford Bridge next season.

The Guardian - Sport

Attlee was persuaded to elevate him to the peerage, and bring to Labour's sparsely populated Lords benches a youthful thinker who had been Sir William Beveridge's right-hand man on his landmark welfare state report.

The Guardian

Abbott adds that Rudd would also elevate the office by telling the Australian voters when they will get an election.

The Guardian

They elevate academic research showing that children in large classes achieve roughly the same as those in smaller classes – or, more specifically, that to make any discernible difference to student achievement, class sizes have to be unaffordably small (around 15 pupils).

The Guardian

But even if you're a small business without the millions to hire an A-lister to promote your product, you can still hire a celebrity (albeit further down the chain) to help elevate your brand.

The Guardian

"And I have said that … this is a moment in which we can begin to elevate the conversation about race and race relations in this country".

The Guardian

She plans to continue using the momentum of her story to elevate the conversation.

The Guardian

Tony Abbott: May he elevate that office, and he would best elevate that office by explaining the events of last night.

The Guardian

It's a step above the NCISes of the world, following several big cases throughout the course of the season, but it never does anything to elevate itself past being another boring cop show.

The Guardian

The forest that has swallowed Abney Park mocks the original design for an arboretum, where every plant was carefully labelled to elevate the public taste.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "elevate" when you want to convey the idea of raising something to a higher status, whether it's a physical object, a person's position, or the level of a discussion.

Common error

Avoid using "elevate" in situations where a simpler word like "raise" or "lift" would be more appropriate. Overusing "elevate" can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "elevate" is as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. It signifies the act of raising something to a higher position or status. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the usage of "elevate" is both correct and applicable in English writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

19%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elevate" functions primarily as a transitive verb signifying the act of raising something to a higher position or status. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It's commonly used in news and formal contexts to denote improvements in status, importance, or quality. While versatile, it's essential to consider simpler synonyms for informal settings. Related phrases include "raise", "promote", and "enhance". Remember to employ "elevate" thoughtfully, ensuring it appropriately reflects the intended meaning and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raise

Focuses on the physical or metaphorical lifting to a higher position.

promote

Implies advancement to a higher rank or position, often in a professional context.

lift up

Suggests a more direct and often physical raising.

boost

Implies increasing or improving something, often in terms of performance or morale.

enhance

Focuses on improving the quality or desirability of something.

upgrade

Suggests improving something by replacing it with a newer or better version.

advance

Implies forward movement or progress, often to a better state.

exalt

Emphasizes praising or glorifying someone or something to a high degree.

aggrandize

Suggests exaggerating the importance or power of someone or something, sometimes negatively.

ennoble

Focuses on making someone or something more noble or dignified.

FAQs

How do I use "elevate" in a sentence?

You can use "elevate" to mean to raise something to a higher position, like "The platform helped to elevate the speaker so everyone could see him." It can also mean to raise in status or importance, such as "The promotion will elevate her to a management role."

What can I say instead of "elevate"?

You can use alternatives like "raise", "promote", or "lift up" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "elevate" or "levitate"?

"Elevate" means to raise something to a higher position or status, while "levitate" means to rise and hover in the air, often without visible support. The words are not interchangeable.

What's the difference between "elevate" and "improve"?

"Elevate" suggests raising something to a higher level or status, while "improve" means to make something better. You might "elevate" a conversation by introducing a new perspective or "improve" your skills through practice.