elbow room

noun

Synonyms of elbow roomnext
1
a
: room for moving the elbows freely
b
: adequate space for work or operation
a lab with plenty of elbow room
2
: free scope
elbow room to try new ideas

Examples of elbow room in a Sentence

It's a small kitchen with very little elbow room. help me move the furniture so that we'll have enough elbow room to do some aerobics
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.
Perhaps the wide stairway is to give workers and their equipment some elbow room. Jim Radcliffe, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026 The crew of four — in the dim green glow of their spacecraft, with no more elbow room than a Sprinter van — entered a profound solitude few have ever experienced. Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 With food-truck season looming, the thought of additional elbow room is a dream come true. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2026 Instead of feeling generous, the space feels tight and overworked, with chairs competing for attention and elbow room. Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elbow room

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of elbow room was circa 1540

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elbow room.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elbow%20room. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

elbowroom

noun
el·​bow·​room
ˈel-ˌbō-ˌrüm
-ˌru̇m
1
: room for moving the elbows freely
2
: enough space for work or operation
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