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
The curator held out the master key for the elevator that led to the gallery director’s top-floor office.
—
Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Powell’s recent statements that there are no plans for a VIP dining room, new marble, special elevators, new water features, or rooftop terrace garden suggest plans changed from what was approved in 2021, according to the letter, which also listed nearly a dozen questions on the project.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 July 2025
On more than one occasion, according to sources, the elevator has dropped suddenly.
—Tracy J. Wholf, CBS News, 9 July 2025
Bell has bone cancer and said the broken elevators and general conditions in the building are hazardous to her health.
—Kansas City Star, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for elevator
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Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Powell’s recent statements that there are no plans for a VIP dining room, new marble, special elevators, new water features, or rooftop terrace garden suggest plans changed from what was approved in 2021, according to the letter, which also listed nearly a dozen questions on the project.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 July 2025
On more than one occasion, according to sources, the elevator has dropped suddenly.
—Tracy J. Wholf, CBS News, 9 July 2025
Bell has bone cancer and said the broken elevators and general conditions in the building are hazardous to her health.
—Kansas City Star, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for elevator
Cite this Entry
“Elevator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevator. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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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