elbow

1 of 2

noun

el·​bow ˈel-ˌbō How to pronounce elbow (audio)
1
a
: the joint of the human arm
b
: a corresponding joint in the anterior limb of a lower vertebrate
2
: something (such as macaroni or an angular pipe fitting) resembling an elbow

elbow

2 of 2

verb

elbowed; elbowing; elbows

transitive verb

1
a
: to push with the elbow : jostle
b
: to shove aside by pushing with or as if with the elbow
people elbowed each other to get a better view
2
: to force (one's way) by pushing with or as if with the elbow
elbowing our way through the crowd

intransitive verb

1
: to advance by pushing with the elbow
2
: to make an angle : turn
Phrases
at one's elbow
: at one's side
out at elbows or out at the elbows
1
: shabbily dressed
2
: short of funds

Examples of elbow in a Sentence

Noun He wore a tattered coat with holes in the elbows. Verb The actor's bodyguards rudely elbowed everyone out of the way. Everyone was shoving and elbowing to get a good position.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Ohtani tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Aug. 23, ending his pitching season. BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023 Some have family here: Vic Lee, 33, of the nonprofit organization Welcome to Chinatown, has a tattoo on her elbow of a rice bowl with the number 135, a homage to her grandmother’s longtime address, 135 Eldridge Street. Ligaya Mishan David Chow, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023 Instead of ski jackets and bobble hats, the people waiting are dressed like 21st-century gladiators—with knees, chests, and elbows covered in plastic body armor. WIRED, 18 Sep. 2023 One of the few negatives of the first half was an elbow injury to Cowboys guard Chuma Edoga. Sportsday Staff, Dallas News, 17 Sep. 2023 If all goes well, they could be added to the staff in their return from right elbow injuries. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023 Astros: Ryne Stanek: 15-Day IL (ankle), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow) The Associated Press contributed to this report. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 15 Sep. 2023 Around the horn Three weeks after suffering a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, Orioles closer Félix Bautista played catch for a fifth time, throwing from about 120 feet. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2023 Three weeks earlier, the pair were posted up at a Highland Park backyard sesh organized by the Swami Select cannabis brand, with the artist delicately daubing marijuana-leaf designs in henna on the back of Haq’s hands and up to her elbows. Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Verb
But Conger, who had no curatorial training, elbowed out art dealers and museums in his acquisition of rare objects. Julie Lasky, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2023 Brooks received an unsportsmanlike foul after elbowing Zoran Dragic in the head in the first quarter. oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2023 Its very success has led it to transform itself from a novel effort to achieve a scientific goal to something that resembles a standard Silicon Valley unicorn on its way to elbowing into the pantheon of Big Tech companies that affect our everyday lives. Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2023 Despite his struggles, Blach remained with the Orioles into 2020, suffering an elbow injury in the summer camp ramp-up out of the coronavirus shutdown that necessitated Tommy John elbow reconstruction and getting released soon after. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2023 Without Wander Franco, their star shortstop on the restricted list, and Shane McClanahan, their ace who recently had Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, Tampa seems more likely to slump just enough for Baltimore to retain its lead in the division. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2023 Bend elbows out wide to the sides bringing head to touch the floor. Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023 But if your seatmates are getting sprayed by your mists and serums, or elbowed during blush application, that's really inconsiderate. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2023 How to: Start standing with knees slightly bent and body hinged forward at 45 degrees holding and a dumbbell in each hand, elbows bent, close to rib cage, and back behind body. Michelle Marques, Women's Health, 7 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elbow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English elbowe, from Old English elboga, from el- (akin to eln ell) + Old English boga bow — more at ell, bow

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of elbow was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near elbow

Cite this Entry

“Elbow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elbow. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

elbow

1 of 2 noun
el·​bow ˈel-ˌbō How to pronounce elbow (audio)
1
a
: the joint of the arm
also : the outer curve of a bent arm
b
: a corresponding joint in the front limb of an animal
2
: a part (as of a pipe) bent like an elbow

elbow

2 of 2 verb
1
: to push or shove with the elbow : jostle
2
: to advance by or as if by pushing with the elbow
elbowed his way to the front

Medical Definition

elbow

noun
el·​bow ˈel-ˌbō How to pronounce elbow (audio)
1
: the joint between the human forearm and the upper arm that supports the outer curve of the arm when bent

called also elbow joint

2
: a joint in the anterior limb of a lower vertebrate corresponding to the elbow

More from Merriam-Webster on elbow

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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