dumbwaiter

noun

dumb·​wait·​er ˈdəm-ˌwā-tər 

ˌdəm-ˈwā-

1

: a portable serving table or stand

2

: a small elevator used for conveying food and dishes from one story of a building to another

Examples of dumbwaiter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ohm faces plenty of freaky sights and sounds, from dead bodies and claustrophobic dumbwaiters to a creepy kids show that will give you the willies. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 May 2026

Mal drugged Fiona at the Halloween party, then took her up to the honeymoon suite and stuffed her into the dumbwaiter, sending it down to the basement and leaving her there to die. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 1 May 2026

Each room has a small hatch near the entrance—a dumbwaiter-like compartment where staff can leave deliveries or collect items without disturbing you. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026

Smart systems, an elevator and a dumbwaiter handle the home’s complexity, so its occupants don’t have to. —Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dumbwaiter

• creator
• curator
• debater
• deflator
• dictator
• dilator
• equator
• locator
• piscator
• pronator
• relator
• rotator

Kids Definition

dumbwaiter

noun

dumb·​wait·​er ˈdəm-ˈwāt-ər 

: a small elevator for carrying food or goods from one story to another