What does levitation mean?
Levitation is the rising of a person or object into the air without apparent physical support. In everyday conversation, it often refers to a stage illusion, as in a levitation trick or act, where a performer appears to hover above the ground. The word can also be used in religious, legendary, or spiritual contexts for miraculous floating. Although levitation may imply a supernatural cause in some descriptions, its reference to theatre and illusion keeps the term from always carrying that implication. Historically, it comes from the idea of becoming light or rising, and it is closely related to the verb levitate. The word is useful when discussing both traditional accounts of miraculous flight and modern techniques designed to make physical suspension appear impossible.
nounThe act of rising or being raised into the air, especially without physical support. The term is also used for the phenomenon or performance technique in which a person or object appears to float.
- The act or phenomenon of rising into the air, especially without physical support.
- A performance or illusion in which a person or object appears to float.
"The magician's levitation of a small table amazed the audience."
"Accounts of levitation have long been associated with saints and spiritualists."
"The stage illusion relied on careful lighting to create the appearance of levitation."
Used when referring to separate acts, instances, or performances of levitation.
"The performer had staged several levitations in the show."
Levitation is both a claimed supernatural power and a stagecraft illusion, making it one of the oldest forms of theatrical spectacle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does levitation come from?
The word derives from the Latin levitas, meaning lightness or buoyancy, and from levitare, meaning to rise or make light. English borrowed the noun levitation in the early 17th century, initially in contexts describing rising or buoyancy and later in reports of alleged miraculous floating. Modern theatrical and spiritual senses developed from this older sense of being raised into the air. The related English words levitate and levity continue to reflect the same Latin root associated with lightness.
Related word forms
How levitation is actually used
In general use, levitation is often figurative or theatrical. In religious and spiritual contexts, it may describe a reported miraculous event; in descriptions of stage performances, it usually refers to an illusion or carefully executed physical effect.