es·ca·la·tor
ˈe-skə-ˌlā-tər 
nonstandard
-skyə-
1
a
: a power-driven set of stairs arranged like an endless belt that ascend or descend continuously
b
: an upward course suggestive of an escalator
a never-stopping escalator of economic progress—
D. W. Brogan
D. W. Brogan2
: an escalator clause or provision
: providing for a periodic proportional upward or downward adjustment (as of prices or wages)
an escalator arrangement tying the base pay … to living costs—New York Times
New York TimesExamples of escalator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The Rays hold a $7 million club option on Fairbanks’ contract for next season, which includes additional escalators that could boost the overall value up to $11 million.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 27 July 2025
The show’s original run ended right on the edge of a rapid cultural shift: three years after the iPhone, two years before Twitter became widespread, and five years before Donald Trump descended the escalators at Trump Tower.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 July 2025
The Wall Street investment bank upgraded shares of the elevator and escalator manufacturer to overweight from neutral and raised its yearend price target 8%, to $109 from $101.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalator
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Noun
Taking a page from Julio Rodriguez’s 2022 deal with the Seattle Mariners, according to Spotrac and Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, the current contract includes various and sundry escalators.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
The Rays hold a $7 million club option on Fairbanks’ contract for next season, which includes additional escalators that could boost the overall value up to $11 million.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 27 July 2025
The show’s original run ended right on the edge of a rapid cultural shift: three years after the iPhone, two years before Twitter became widespread, and five years before Donald Trump descended the escalators at Trump Tower.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 July 2025
The Wall Street investment bank upgraded shares of the elevator and escalator manufacturer to overweight from neutral and raised its yearend price target 8%, to $109 from $101.
—Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalator
Cite this Entry
“Escalator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escalator. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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