Synonym Chooser

How does the noun elevation contrast with its synonyms?

The words altitude and height are common synonyms of elevation. While all three words mean "vertical distance either between the top and bottom of something or between a base and something above it," altitude and elevation apply to height as measured by angular measurement or atmospheric pressure; altitude is preferable when referring to vertical distance above the surface of the earth or above sea level; elevation is used especially in reference to vertical height on land.

fly at an altitude of 10,000 meters
Denver is a city with a high elevation

When can height be used instead of elevation?

The words height and elevation can be used in similar contexts, but height refers to something measured vertically whether high or low.

a wall two meters in height

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of elevation Identifying the genetics behind people’s adaptations to high elevation may offer medically important clues. Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025 The weather service office in Seattle warned of an additional half foot of snow falling at high elevations from Friday into Saturday, while forecasters in Great Falls, Montana, said up to a foot of snow could fall over the same period. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025 Areas of higher elevation, such as the mountain peaks and the Green River Basin, can be seen covered in snow. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025 The demanding Twin Palms circuit is a true driver’s circuit, featuring high-speed straights, tight technical sections and elevation changes. Jan Wagner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elevation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elevation
Noun
  • In the past, only non-discounted stays qualified for free dining deals, but next year, guests will be able to couple that benefit with other promotions.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Even before the current wave of promotions, college students had established themselves as AI’s power users.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The spa has a similar indoor-outdoor feel: the yoga studio looks out onto greenery while hot and cold plunge pools come with a wide view of the hills.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That united display of fealty reflected Big Tech’s hopes that Trump would be more accommodating than President Biden’s administration and help propel an already booming industry to even greater heights.
    Mae Anderson and Michael Liedtke, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Hanging Your Curtain Rods Too Low One thing that can dramatically increase the feeling of space in your room is hanging your curtains at the right height.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But the ascent of Elaida means a reactionary who loves the color red and wants to Make the Aes Sedai Great Again is in charge.
    Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
  • At the same time, Representative Newt Gingrich from Georgia was already in ascent, assuming the position of House Minority Whip in March 1989.
    Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Ohtani should find his way back to the mound at some point this season and reestablish himself as a dominant force, not only as a batter but also as a pitcher.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • With a left-hander on the mound, Oscar Gonzalez will start in left field and Yuli Gurriel will serve as the DH, sending Gavin Sheets to a pinch-hitting role.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • It is reported that the rocket system ascended to an altitude of roughly 66 miles.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • At an altitude of about 45 miles, the crew capsule is then released to continue soaring out of the lower atmosphere on its own, while the reusable booster heads back down to Earth to land on a nearby pad.
    Jennifer Earl, Analisa Novak, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In fact, researchers have theorized that fusion could generate nearly limitless amounts of safe and clean energy on Earth, but the scientific advancements that could make this possible on a large scale are still decades away.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The announcement marks the first advancement toward a full agreement that was thrown into jeopardy by rounds of tense talks and Zelensky's disastrous White House visit in February.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Dense banks of sponges cling to the summits and slopes of underwater mountains.
    Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
  • John Shine described to me a research trip to the hostile mountain environs of Tasmania, where snakes stay under cover except for the 20 or 30 warm days each year.
    Stephen S. Hall, Time, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Elevation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elevation. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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