Meaning & use
elevating
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableformalapproving
Lifting your spirits or making you feel better, nobler or more inspired.
Grammar: Describes an experience or influence: an elevating speech. It often sounds formal or literary.
Patterns
- an elevating experience/speech
The concert was an elevating experience for everyone in the hall.
She found the sermon deeply elevating.
Reading great poetry can be an elevating pastime.
verbtransitive
The -ing form of elevate: raising something to a higher position, level or rank.
Grammar: Takes an object: elevating the platform, elevating a manager to director.
Patterns
- elevating something
- elevating someone to something
The crew is elevating the screen so everyone can see it.
The board is elevating her to chief executive next month.
Elevating your legs can reduce swelling.
Common combinations
- an elevating experience
- Seeing the mountains at dawn was an elevating experience.
- elevating effect
- Music can have an elevating effect on your mood.
- elevating influence
- A good teacher is an elevating influence in a child's life.
- elevating discussion
- The seminar led to an elevating discussion about art.
- elevating the standard
- The new chef is elevating the standard of the restaurant.
Synonyms and how they differ
- uplifting
- Uplifting is more common and warm, describing anything that makes you feel happier or more hopeful.
- inspiring
- Inspiring suggests a push to act or create, while elevating suggests raising you above ordinary feelings.
- edifying
- Edifying means morally or intellectually improving, so it sounds more instructive and sometimes a little preachy.
- ennobling
- Ennobling is stronger and suggests making you feel more honorable or dignified.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: elevating or elevated?
elevating vs elevated
Elevated usually means raised or high, as in elevated blood pressure, whereas elevating describes something that lifts the spirit.
Practice
The choir's performance was truly ___, leaving the audience feeling inspired and uplifted.
Choose one answer.
Elevating describes something that lifts people's spirits. Depressing, degrading and tiresome all describe negative effects.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “elevating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.