escalator

1 of 2

noun

es·​ca·​la·​tor ˈe-skə-ˌlā-tər 

nonstandard

-skyə- 

1

a

: a power-driven set of stairs arranged like an endless belt that ascend or descend continuously

b

: an upward course suggestive of an escalator

a never-stopping escalator of economic progress

—D. W. Brogan

2

: an escalator clause or provision

escalator

2 of 2

adjective

: providing for a periodic proportional upward or downward adjustment (as of prices or wages)

an escalator arrangement tying the base pay … to living costs

—New York Times

Examples of escalator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Thunder center Chet Holmgren also received a five-year max deal, although his doesn't have the escalator language, so it's guaranteed to begin at 25% of next year's cap. —Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Some folks have heard that the stadium’s escalators are the first in Lawrence. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2025

Trump could say to Mamdani, the Socialist Democrat, or Democrat Socialist, waiting in the atrium below that there are no golden escalators in Socialist countries, only wooden stairs. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 18 Aug. 2025

Guests scan their boarding passes to access the lounge and ascend to the third floor (the main terminal is on the second) via escalators. —Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from Escalator, a trademark

First Known Use

Noun

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for escalator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

escalator

noun

es·​ca·​la·​tor

ˈes-kə-ˌlāt-ər

: a moving set of stairs arranged like a continuous belt