levitation

noun

lev·​i·​ta·​tion ˌle-və-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce levitation (audio)
: the act or process of levitating
especially : the rising or lifting of a person or thing by means held to be supernatural
levitational adjective

Examples of levitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Seven months later, playing for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Carter capped his year of levitation by jumping over France’s 7-2 center, Frederic Weis, en route to a violent, yet somehow, also, elegant, slam in a preliminary round game. Marcus Thompson Ii, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025 So here goes: My deep dive into the world of levitation, fear and faith started the way most articles do — with a tip. Marisa Kwiatkowski, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Sep. 2024 After all, this levitation answers the question hanging over the entire 10 episodes. Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 Which suggests that any changes in conductivity are coming from something else, like the contaminant highlighted by Jain. About the levitation But changes in conductivity aren't the only aspects of superconductivity that were originally reported for LK-99. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for levitation 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin levitātiōn-, levitātiō, from Latin levis "light" + New Latin -itātiōn-, -itātiō in gravitātiō gravitation — more at light entry 4

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of levitation was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near levitation

Cite this Entry

“Levitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levitation. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

levitation

noun
lev·​i·​ta·​tion ˌlev-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce levitation (audio)
: the act or process of levitating
especially : the rising or lifting of a person or thing as if by magic

More from Merriam-Webster on levitation

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