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
D. W. Brogan2
: an escalator clause or provision
: 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
New York TimesExamples of escalator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
To be fair, there are fairly straightforward escalators here that could land Merrill an additional $30 million.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
However, according to several reports, including MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the contract includes escalators that could balloon the total value to nearly $100 million; the two club options are worth $19 and $21 million, respectively.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
The theater is inside the Marriott Marquis Hotel, on the third floor (enter through the lobby, then take the escalators up).
—Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalator
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Noun
Last year saw a dangerous TikTok trend of tourists recording themselves posing or dancing on the escalator coming out of the metro station to have the Basilica in the background.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
To be fair, there are fairly straightforward escalators here that could land Merrill an additional $30 million.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
However, according to several reports, including MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the contract includes escalators that could balloon the total value to nearly $100 million; the two club options are worth $19 and $21 million, respectively.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
The theater is inside the Marriott Marquis Hotel, on the third floor (enter through the lobby, then take the escalators up).
—Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for escalator
Cite this Entry
“Escalator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escalator. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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