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
For 2025, that elevator is rising for everyone, but the impact varies significantly based on your financial situation.
—
Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Not all elevators lead to such lofty heights, but the Hammetschwand Lift — the highest exterior elevator in Europe — is worth facing acrophobia for.
—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2025
Galina met him just off the elevator and kissed his cheeks in greeting.
—Brandon Taylor, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2025
Attend industry conferences or webinars where these leaders are speaking, and be prepared with a brief elevator pitch about yourself and your interests.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elevator 
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Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
Not all elevators lead to such lofty heights, but the Hammetschwand Lift — the highest exterior elevator in Europe — is worth facing acrophobia for.
—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2025
Galina met him just off the elevator and kissed his cheeks in greeting.
—Brandon Taylor, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2025
Attend industry conferences or webinars where these leaders are speaking, and be prepared with a brief elevator pitch about yourself and your interests.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elevator
Dictionary Entries Near elevator
Cite this Entry
“Elevator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elevator. Accessed 18 Jan. 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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