Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

levitate

/ˈlɛvɪteɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.52 in modern English

Syllables: lev-i-tate
IPA: /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To cause to rise in the air and float, as if in defiance of gravity.

Transitive verb

verb

To be suspended in the air, as if in defiance of gravity.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"The magician levitated the woman."
"The guru claimed that he could levitate."

Etymology

First attested in 1673; borrowed from New Latin levitātus, perfect passive participle of levitō (“to levitate; to have one's motion directed upward, as opposed to the downward motion induced by gravity”) (first attested c. 1670), modeled on gravitō (“to gravitate”) (← Latin gravis (“heavy”)), from levis (“light”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Origin

First known use: First attested in 1673

Usage

Inflected Forms

levitates (present, singular) levitating (participle, present) levitated (participle, past) levitated (past)

Derived Forms

levitation levitator

Synonyms

hover

Questions

How do you pronounce levitate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/.
What does levitate mean?: To cause to rise in the air and float, as if in defiance of gravity.
Where does levitate come from?: First known use: First attested in 1673.

How to pronounce levitate

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Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈlɛvɪteɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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