Elated in a Sentence: Usage, Word Origin and Practice

Elated (adjective). Elated means very happy or delighted, often after welcome news or an achievement. This lesson focuses on using the word in your own sentences.

Example: Mira was elated to hear that her story would be published.

Pronunciation guide: ih-LAY-tid. Capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Explore the usage · Try the three-question quiz · Keep learning

Start with a situation, then build a sentence

Use elated when you want to show strong happiness. Name the person, describe the feeling and explain its cause. For a broader definition and comparisons with similar words, read our Elated meaning guide.

Situation: A learner receives a positive reply about a scholarship.
Sentence: “Arun felt elated when the acceptance email arrived.”

The added detail makes the emotion understandable. “Arun was elated” is grammatically complete, but the reader may still wonder why.

Elated at, by, about and to

• Elated at + news or event: We were elated at the announcement.
• Elated by + cause: She felt elated by the audience’s warm response.
• Elated about + situation: I am elated about joining the school choir.
• Elated to + base verb: They were elated to see their missing dog again.
• Elated that + clause: He was elated that his proposal had been accepted.

These patterns can overlap. Choose one that makes the cause easy to express. After “to” in the infinitive pattern, use “hear,” not “hearing.”

Five sentence models to adapt

1. I felt elated when I finished my first conversation entirely in English.
2. The runners were exhausted but elated after completing the race.
3. Her elated smile told us that the interview had gone well.
4. We were elated to welcome our cousin home.
5. He sounded elated when he called to share the news.

Mini conversation:
A: “How did you feel when they chose your design?”
B: “I was elated. I had worked on it for weeks.”

Try reading the reply aloud, then replace “design” with a real achievement of your own.

Elated word origin and common errors

Elated is connected to the verb elate, which comes from Latin elatus, a form associated with carrying or lifting up. The idea of lifted spirits is a useful memory aid. See Merriam-Webster’s elate entry for the word history.

Keep the forms separate: “She is elated” describes her feeling; “She felt elation” uses a noun. Write “I was elated,” not “I was elation.” Use happy for ordinary pleasure when stronger language would exaggerate the situation.

Practise elated: three quick questions

Try each question before opening its answer. If a question asks you to write a sentence, your own correct example is welcome.

Question 1

Complete the sentence: “We were elated to ___ the final.” Choose reach or reaching.

Question 2

Correct this sentence: “She felt elationed after the good news.”

Question 3

Write a sentence beginning “I felt elated when …” and give a specific reason.

Keep learning

Compare these words next: Epiphany meaning and practice and Tenacity meaning and practice.

Continue with free daily English practice or choose another activity in the learning app.

Dictionary reference: Merriam-Webster: Elated. The examples and practice questions on this page are written for English Skill Studio.