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
The elevator subsequently passed a county inspection and has been cleared for use.
—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The lobby and dining areas are wheelchair accessible, and there is a wheelchair lift to some rooms, but there is no elevator here, and most rooms are not wheelchair-friendly.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 June 2026
Critical support role HII will inspect elevator systems and respond to mechanical failures throughout the fleet.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
His protagonist was Lila Mae Watson, the first Black woman elevator inspector in an unnamed metropolis, who is framed for a catastrophic fall.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elevator
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Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The lobby and dining areas are wheelchair accessible, and there is a wheelchair lift to some rooms, but there is no elevator here, and most rooms are not wheelchair-friendly.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 June 2026
Critical support role HII will inspect elevator systems and respond to mechanical failures throughout the fleet.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
His protagonist was Lila Mae Watson, the first Black woman elevator inspector in an unnamed metropolis, who is framed for a catastrophic fall.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for elevator
Cite this Entry
“Elevator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevator. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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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