Levitate
/ˈlɛvəˌteɪt/
verbB2
Definition
Levitate means to lift or float above the ground without anything holding or touching you. It often describes something or someone rising in the air in a way that looks like magic or a special power. People use this word when talking about magic tricks, stories, or unusual events.
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See It in Action
To rise or float in the air without physical support
- •The magician made the assistant levitate above the stage.
- •Some yogis claim they can levitate during deep meditation.
- •The book describes a character who can levitate at will.
(Figurative) To rise or increase, often used in poetry or creative writing
- •Her spirits seemed to levitate after hearing the good news.
- •The music made the audience feel like they were levitating.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'levitate' like 'fly,' but without wings or any visible help—just floating in the air
- ✓Picture a magician making a person slowly rise above the floor with no ropes or chairs
- ✓It's the feeling of wonder when you see something impossible, like floating without support
- ✓Sounds like 'LEV-uh-tate' → imagine a 'leaf' gently rising and floating up in the air
- ✓In stories, magicians or superheroes sometimes levitate to show their power or magic
- ✓NOT like 'jump' (which is quick and uses your legs)—levitate is slow and smooth floating
- ✓NOT like 'fly' (which needs wings or an engine)—levitate looks like rising without help
- ✓NOT like 'hover' (which is staying in one place in the air)—levitate can mean rising or floating higher
Try Other Words
- •Hover: to stay in one place in the air (Use when something stays still above the ground)
- •Rise: to go up or move higher (Use when focusing on going upward, not necessarily floating)
- •Float: to move gently on air or water (Use when movement is light and natural, less magical)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'lev-' from Latin 'levare' meaning 'to raise' + suffix '-itate' forming a verb
- •Etymology: From Latin 'levitare,' meaning to cause to rise or be light
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s mainly in magical or religious contexts to describe rising above the ground
- •Modern usage: Often used in magic shows, fantasy stories, or to describe unusual or impossible floating
Reflect & Connect
•How would you describe the feeling or experience of levitating if you saw it happen?
•Can levitate be used in everyday life or only in magical or special situations? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.The magician made the woman levitate ___ the stage without any visible support.
2.When someone levitates, they seem to float ___ touching the ground.
3.Levitate is different from jump because it does not use ___ to go up.
4.In stories, characters who levitate often have ___ powers or magic.
5.The leaf seemed to levitate as the wind gently blew it ___ the air.
6.Yogis say they can levitate during deep meditation, which means their body ___ above the ground.
7.The word levitate often pairs with adverbs like 'slowly' or 'silently' to show ___ movement.