cable car

noun

: a vehicle moved by an endless cable:

a

: one suspended from an overhead cable

b

: one that moves along tracks

Examples of cable car in a Sentence

The skiers took a cable car to the top of the mountain.

Tourists packed the cable cars on the hilly streets of San Francisco.

Recent Examples on the Web

New 10-seater cable cars, introduced in 2023 as part of an ongoing major upgrade, shorten wait times and offer faster, more spacious rides. —New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026

Coombs and her group opted to hike the entire way up — a six-hour climb — skipping the cable car shortcut. —Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026

There's also the Whirlpool Aero Car, a cable car which travels high in the sky to offer an unparalleled view of the Niagara Falls Whirlpool, and the Gray Line Boat Tours which venture out on the water, perfect for those who aren't afraid of getting a little wet. —Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026

One person died Wednesday when a cable car cabin at a Swiss ski resort fell and crashed on a snowy mountainside. —Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cable car

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar

Kids Definition

cable car

noun

: a car moved on tracks by an endless cable or along an overhead cable