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

: grain elevator

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

For families Families were flitting around the lobby, pool terrace, and elevators throughout my stay, so rest assured that this is a great spot to bring the kids—not to mention that the attached shopping mall and exceptionally safe surrounding neighborhood are reassuring for any parent. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026

On Sunday afternoon, March 7, Gavitt, Jernstedt and Cawood boarded a hotel elevator on the 40th floor and rode down the lobby to a room that CBS had turned into a studio. —Bill Hancock, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026

On March 10, Thailand ordered civil servants to take the stairs rather than the elevator, and to work-from-home for the duration of the crisis. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026

At the site, Robert Elliott Custom Homes built a nearly 11,000-square- feet home with six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two half baths and an elevator, according to Zillow. —Neal Franklin, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing elevator

• elevator music
• grain elevator
• space elevator

Rhymes for elevator

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

Kids 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