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
Accessibility Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin features elevators and is fully accessible, with three dedicated guest rooms for guests with reduced mobility.
—
Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
Encompassing five levels serviced by both a central staircase and a high-speed elevator, the sprawling mansion offers a total of nine bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms, and five powder rooms.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2026
The crew members in the elevator shaft were not named.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The list included hurricane impact glass, common area renovations, lobbies, elevators, bathrooms, roof replacements and HVAC replacements.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elevator
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
Encompassing five levels serviced by both a central staircase and a high-speed elevator, the sprawling mansion offers a total of nine bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms, and five powder rooms.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2026
The crew members in the elevator shaft were not named.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The list included hurricane impact glass, common area renovations, lobbies, elevators, bathrooms, roof replacements and HVAC replacements.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 18 Feb. 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 23 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
