Elevation means height above a reference point, usually sea level. When a mountain climber checks the elevation on their map, they're seeing how high they've climbed measured from the ocean's surface. Denver, Colorado sits at an elevation of exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level, which is why it's called the Mile High City.

Elevation matters in surprising ways. Water boils at a lower temperature at high elevations because there's less air pressure pushing down on it, so cooking pasta takes longer in the mountains than at the beach. Airplanes cruising at an elevation of 35,000 feet need pressurized cabins because the air is too thin for people to breathe normally. Athletes training at high elevation develop stronger lungs and hearts because their bodies adapt to thinner air.

The word also describes the act of lifting something up or raising it to a more important position. A coach might work on the elevation of a player's skills through practice. In architecture, an elevation is a flat drawing that shows what a building looks like from the side or front.

When something is at a higher elevation, we call it elevated. An elevated train track runs above the street rather than at street level.