elevator

noun

el·e·va·tor ˈe-lə-ˌvā-tər

: one that raises or lifts something up: such as

: an endless belt or chain conveyor with cleats, scoops, or buckets for raising material

: a cage or platform and its hoisting machinery for conveying people or things to different levels

: grain elevator

: a movable airfoil usually attached to the tailplane of an airplane for controlling pitch see airplane illustration

Example Sentences

We took the elevator to the 10th floor.

Recent Examples on the Web The decor is contemporary, in whites and mineral blues and the private elevator allows for discreet arrivals. —

Lee Cobaj, Robb Report, 29 May 2023 When the elevator stopped, Majcunich-Beasley smelled something burning and feared there might be a fire. —

Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 25 May 2023 The elevator stopped, and a woman who appeared to be about 30 got on. —

James Barron, New York Times, 15 May 2023 In 2020, the country installed a new wheelchair-friendly elevator at the Acropolis complex, going on to add a wheelchair-friendly path the following year. —

Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2023 Once the elevator started running again, the Motown floors were reached prior to mine. —

Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023 The empty warehouse was back in the news in 2009 when a group of urban explorers discovered a dead body that was partially encased in ice in an elevator shaft. —

Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 25 Apr. 2023 Located inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid with views of the Mississippi River, Big Cypress Lodge features 100-foot tall trees, a swamp with live alligators and a variety of fish, the nation’s tallest freestanding elevator, a bowling alley and many additional attractions. —

Victoria Rodriguez, Seventeen, 20 Apr. 2023 She was slapped in the face by the future President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and brutally murdered in an elevator as depicted by Brian De Palma. —

Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2023 See More

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