elevator

noun

el·​e·​va·​tor ˈe-lə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce elevator (audio)
1
: one that raises or lifts something up: such as
a
: an endless belt or chain conveyor with cleats, scoops, or buckets for raising material
b
: a cage or platform and its hoisting machinery for conveying people or things to different levels
c
: grain elevator
2
: a movable airfoil usually attached to the tailplane of an airplane for controlling pitch see airplane illustration

Examples of elevator in a Sentence

We took the elevator to the 10th floor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Accessibility The resort is fully ADA compliant, with ADA-accessible accommodations, accessible pool access, and elevators offered throughout the resort. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 So elevators even predate subways, yet the MTA had to be sued to provide this basic service. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 That can mean fewer repaired roofs, fewer modernized science laboratories, fewer accessible entrances and elevators, fewer upgraded heating and cooling systems, fewer lead and asbestos remediation projects and fewer safety improvements. — Angel Gutierrez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 Three hundred and twenty-nine thousand visitors were in town, to celebrate America’s two-hundred-and-fiftieth birthday, and all of them were on my elevator. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elevator

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of elevator was in 1646

Phrases Containing elevator

Rhymes for elevator

See All Rhymes for elevator

Browse Nearby Words

elevato
elevator
elevator dredge
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elevator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevator. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

elevator

noun
el·​e·​va·​tor ˈel-ə-ˌvāt-ər How to pronounce elevator (audio)
1
a
: a continuous belt or chain conveyor for raising material
b
: a cage or platform and its hoisting machinery for carrying things or people to different levels
c
: a building for elevating, storing, unloading, and sometimes grinding grain

called also grain elevator

2
: a movable device shaped like a wing that is usually attached to the tail of an airplane for producing motion up or down

Medical Definition

elevator

noun
el·​e·​va·​tor ˈel-ə-ˌvāt-ər How to pronounce elevator (audio)
1
: a dental instrument for removing teeth or the roots of teeth which cannot be gripped with a forceps
2
: a surgical instrument for raising a depressed part (as a bone) or for separating contiguous parts

More from Merriam-Webster on elevator

Nglish: Translation of elevator for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elevator

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