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
Firefighters immediately arrived at the scene and pulled frightened residents from windows, stairwells, and elevator shafts as the building erupted into flames.
—
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
The eight-story building was complete with telephones, an elevator, and a view of Riverside Drive near the Hudson River.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
The first ship in the class faced persistent issues with integrating new technologies, including advanced aircraft arresting gear and weapons elevators, which contributed to delays and cost overruns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
In September 2014, TMZ published a grainy elevator security video that showed Ray Rice, the star running back for the Baltimore Ravens, punching his girlfriend in the face so hard that she was knocked unconscious.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elevator
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Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
The eight-story building was complete with telephones, an elevator, and a view of Riverside Drive near the Hudson River.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
The first ship in the class faced persistent issues with integrating new technologies, including advanced aircraft arresting gear and weapons elevators, which contributed to delays and cost overruns.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
In September 2014, TMZ published a grainy elevator security video that showed Ray Rice, the star running back for the Baltimore Ravens, punching his girlfriend in the face so hard that she was knocked unconscious.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Jan. 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 30 Jan. 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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