exalt

Exalt is a verb with several related senses centered on lifting up in status, power, or esteem, and on praising highly. It can mean to raise someone to a higher rank or position, to lift something physically, or to magnify the importance or virtue of something. The noun exaltation refers to the act or state of being exalted, while the adjective exalted describes someone or something raised in status or held in high regard. Exalting is the present participle form used in contexts such as “exalting the hero.”

Etymology and usage notes: Exalt derives from Latin exaltare, from ex- “out, up” and altus “high.” In English, exalt is typically transitive, as in “exalt a leader” or “exalt one’s achievements.” It is not commonly used intransitively. It is distinct from exult, which means to rejoice greatly.

Religious and ceremonial usage: In Christian contexts, exalt can describe worship or honor given to God or Christ, and the term exaltation may refer to theological concepts of elevation to a divine, honored position. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a feast observed in various Christian traditions, marking the veneration of the cross.

Synonyms and related terms: praise, glorify, elevate, uplift, magnify. Related antonyms include demean, humiliate, and abase. Exalt is a comparatively formal or literary term and is often used in speeches, religious writing, or literary prose.