elevator
noun
el·e·va·tor
ˈe-lə-ˌvā-tər 
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
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
New York Mayor Eric Adams said investigators believe Tamura was trying to reach the NFL offices but took the wrong elevator.
—
Dianna Russini, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025
The killer then took an elevator to the 33rd floor and killed one more victim, Hyman, who only graduated college five years ago.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
In the elevator of the Associated Press Building at Rockefeller Plaza, Sunny’s brows trembled.
—Kiran Desai, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
Officials have said investigators believe Tamura was headed for the NFL offices at the time of the shooting, but took the wrong elevator.
—John Miller, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elevator
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Dianna Russini, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025
The killer then took an elevator to the 33rd floor and killed one more victim, Hyman, who only graduated college five years ago.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
In the elevator of the Associated Press Building at Rockefeller Plaza, Sunny’s brows trembled.
—Kiran Desai, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
Officials have said investigators believe Tamura was headed for the NFL offices at the time of the shooting, but took the wrong elevator.
—John Miller, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elevator
Cite this Entry
“Elevator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevator. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elevator
noun
el·e·va·tor
ˈel-ə-ˌvāt-ər
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
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
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