Exaltation is the noun form of the verb exalt, meaning elevated praise or intense joy, often expressed aloud or in ritual contexts. It denotes a state or act of heightened admiration, glorification, or elation, typically marking a moment of triumph or sacred celebration. In usage, it can describe both emotional uplift and ceremonial or religious praise.
"The crowd erupted in exaltation after the final whistle."
"Her exaltation was evident as she spoke of the victory and her role in it."
"Religious chants rose in exaltation during the ceremony."
"The orchestra’s crescendo conveyed a sense of exaltation throughout the hall."
Exaltation comes from the Late Latin exaltatio, from exaltare ‘to elevate, exalt,’ which itself derives from ex- ‘out, up’ + altus ‘high’ (related to old roots meaning ‘high, deep’). In Latin, exaltare fused into exaltation as a noun of action, with the sense of raising something to a higher status or praise. In Middle English and Early Modern English, exalt became common as a verb meaning to raise in rank, dignity, or estimation, then the noun exaltation emerged to capture the act or state of being exalted—often tied to religious or ceremonial contexts. By the 16th–17th centuries, exaltation appeared in both secular and religious texts, referencing joyful praise, triumph, or spiritual elevation. The word's semantic journey tracks from physical elevation to elevated status and intense feeling. Today, exaltation commonly conveys intense happiness, triumph, or sacred praise, used across literature, religious discourse, and everyday speech when describing overwhelming positive emotion or solemn celebration.
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Words that rhyme with "Exaltation"
-ion sounds
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Exaltation is pronounced /ɪɡˈzɔːlˌteɪʃən/ in UK English and /ɪɡˈzɑːlˌteɪʃn̩/ in US English (the final syllable often reduces to a syllabic 'n'). The primary stress is on the third syllable: ex-al-TAY-tion. Start with a short 'i' as in 'in', then a bright 'g' with the 'gz' blend, open back vowel /ɔː/ or /ɑː/ for US, a clear /l/, long /eɪ/ before the final /ʃən/ or /tʃən/ depending on accent. For audio cues, listen to the rhythm of 'ex-alt-AY-tion' and mimic the tension of the stressed syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (putting emphasis on 'ex' or 'al'), pronouncing the /t/ as a hard 't' before a 'i' sound, or truncating the final '-tion' to '-tion' without a vocalic ending. Correction: keep the primary stress on the 'tay' part: ex-al-TAY-tion, ensure the /t/ is aspirated but not swallowed, and allow the final syllable to carry a light vowel or syllabic n to avoid clipping: /ɪɡˈzɔːlˌteɪʃən/ or /ɪɡˈzɑːlˌteɪʃn̩/.
In US English, the second syllable has /ɔː/ (or /ɑː) and the final /tion/ often reduces to /ʃən/ with a light n. In UK English, /ˈzɔːl/ aligns with /zɔːl/ and the final /ˈteɪʃən/ retains a clear /t/ and /ən/. Australian tends to be closer to UK but with broader vowel qualities, sometimes a more centralized /ə/ in the last syllable and a slightly more vowel-constrained /eɪ/. Overall, rhotics are variable in US vs non-rhotic UK/AU; stress remains on the 'tay' syllable.
Two core challenges: the multi-syllabic structure with three vowel-consonant junctures and the shift from a front 'i' to a back 'ɔː' before the 'l' and 'teɪ' sequence. The sequence ex-al-tay-tion requires precise vowel lengths and an audible /t/ before the final /ʃən/ or /tʃən/. Additionally, the suffix '-ation' often blends with a light schwa that varies by speaker. Practicing the stepwise stress and smoothing transitions helps clarity.
Notice the strong, open-fronted second vowel cluster in the 'tay' portion; keep the tongue high and move quickly from /l/ to /t/ to avoid a clipped sound. Ensure the /ʃ/ (or /tʃ/) onset before the final syllable is crisp rather than soft, especially in careful speech. Visualize 'ex-ALT-AY-shun' with a firm but rapid glide from the /l/ into the /t/ and then into the /ʃən/ sound.
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