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
He was found lying unconscious near the elevator, at which time Andrew called 911.
—
Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Try one of these on your next coffee run, next elevator ride or next pre-meeting silence.
—Henna Pryor, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
With elevators out of service, some have been training to improve their fitness in preparation for climbing the stairs into the 31-story buildings.
—Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
With elevators out of service, some have been training to improve their fitness in preparation for climbing the stairs up the 31-story buildings.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elevator
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Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Try one of these on your next coffee run, next elevator ride or next pre-meeting silence.
—Henna Pryor, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
With elevators out of service, some have been training to improve their fitness in preparation for climbing the stairs into the 31-story buildings.
—Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
With elevators out of service, some have been training to improve their fitness in preparation for climbing the stairs up the 31-story buildings.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 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 25 Apr. 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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