NYT Dictionary

LEVITATE

/ˈlɛvɪteɪt/
VerbLEV-i-tatelev-i-tate · 3 syllablesGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

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

Etymology

Origin: Latin

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).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

hoverariseascendboostelevateerectescalatefloatheaveheft

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

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