Meaning & use
elevation
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
The height of a place above sea level.
Grammar: Often followed by of and a figure: an elevation of 500 meters.
Patterns
- at an elevation of something
The village lies at an elevation of 2,000 meters.
Cooler temperatures are found at higher elevation.
The map shows the elevation of each peak.
noununcountable
The act of raising something to a higher position or level.
Grammar: Often an abstract noun: elevation of the arm, elevation of mood.
Patterns
- elevation of something
Doctors advise elevation of the injured leg.
The elevation of the platform made the speaker visible.
The elevation of the mood in the room was obvious.
nouncountable or uncountableformal
A promotion to a higher rank or status.
Grammar: Used with to: elevation to a high position.
Patterns
- elevation to something
His elevation to partner surprised no one.
The elevation of the bishop to cardinal was announced.
Her elevation to the presidency came quickly.
nouncountabletechnical
A drawing of one side of a building or structure as seen straight on.
Grammar: Used by architects: front elevation, side elevation.
Patterns
- front elevation
- side elevation
The architect showed the front elevation of the house.
The plans include a rear elevation.
A detailed elevation shows the position of every window.
Word forms
| plural | elevations |
|---|
Common combinations
- high elevation
- Plants at high elevation grow slowly.
- gain elevation
- The trail gains elevation quickly.
- front elevation
- The front elevation shows a large porch.
- elevation above sea level
- The elevation above sea level is 800 meters.
- elevation of mood
- Exercise brings an elevation of mood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- altitude
- Altitude is the height of something in the air, such as a plane, as well as of land, while elevation is usually used for land.
- height
- Height is the general measure of how tall something is, and elevation specifically means above sea level.
- promotion
- Promotion is the ordinary word for moving up in a job, whereas elevation sounds more formal and ceremonial.
- rise
- Rise describes any upward movement and is less formal.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: elevation or altitude?
elevation vs altitude
Altitude is the height above sea level of something in flight or in the air, while elevation more often describes the ground.
Practice
The hiking trail reaches an ____ of 3,000 meters above sea level.
Choose one answer.
Elevation means height above sea level. The other words look similar in length but mean something else.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “elevation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.