elbow
Americannoun
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elbows
plural
-
the bend or joint of the human arm between upper arm and forearm.
-
the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped.
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something bent like an elbow, as a sharp turn in a road or river, or a piece of pipe bent at an angle.
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Architecture. crossette.
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Also called ell, el. a plumbing pipe or pipe connection having a right-angled bend.
verb (used with object)
-
elbows,
present (3rd person singular)
-
elbowed,
past participle, past
-
elbowing
present participle
-
to push with or as if with the elbow; jostle.
-
to make (one's way) by so pushing.
verb (used without object)
-
elbows,
present (3rd person singular)
-
elbowed,
past participle, past
-
elbowing
present participle
idioms
-
at one's elbow, within easy reach; nearby.
A virtue of the cottage is that the ocean is at your elbow.
-
rub elbows with, to mingle socially with; associate with.
a resort where royalty rubs elbows with the merely rich.
-
out at the elbows, Also out at elbows.
-
poorly dressed; shabby.
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impoverished.
-
-
bend / lift / crook an elbow, to drink alcoholic beverages.
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give the elbow, shove aside, get rid of, or reject.
-
up to one's elbows, very busy; engrossed: Also up to the elbows.
I am up to my elbows in answering mail.
noun
-
the joint between the upper arm and the forearm, formed by the junction of the radius and ulna with the humerus
-
the corresponding joint or bone of birds or mammals
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the part of a garment that covers the elbow
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something resembling an elbow, such as a sharp bend in a road or river
-
within easy reach
-
ragged or impoverished
-
busily occupied with; deeply immersed in
verb
-
(tr) to reject; dismiss. Also: give the elbow
-
to make (one's way) by shoving, jostling, etc
-
(tr) to knock or shove with or as if with the elbow
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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elbowsimple
-
elbowssimple
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have elbowedperfect
-
has elbowedperfect
-
am elbowingprogressive
-
are elbowingprogressive
-
is elbowingprogressive
-
have been elbowingperfect progressive
-
has been elbowingperfect progressive
Past
-
elbowedsimple
-
had elbowedperfect
-
was elbowingprogressive
-
were elbowingprogressive
-
had been elbowingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of elbow
before 1000; Middle English elbowe, Old English el ( n ) boga; cognate with Middle Dutch elle ( n ) bōghe, Old High German el ( l ) inbogo ( German Ellenbogen ), Old Norse ǫl ( n ) bogi; literally, “forearm-bend.” See ell 2, bow 1
Explanation
Your elbow is the bendy part of your arm between your wrist and your shoulder. Sometimes people use their pointy elbows to elbow people out of the way. Your elbows are major joints in your arms, making it possible for you to do many things — including get scolded for having your elbows rudely on the table while you eat. Clothing can be said to have elbows as well: "I like your professor jacket with the patches on the elbows." Other inanimate objects with elbows include rivers and pipes: a sharp bend in either of these is also called an elbow.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Washington Commanders' hopes of getting back in the play-offs were dealt a huge blow last week as quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
On Sunday, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow in a loss to the Cowboys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Casadaban says similar approaches are being explored for problems including frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
Jayden Daniels was the second pick of that 2024 draft behind Williams and he left Washington's defeat at Dallas with a serious injury to the same elbow he dislocated last season.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Suddenly I felt Elliot’s elbow digging into my ribs, and I realized my mistake.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
In reality it’s already up to its elbows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
The unnatural act of throwing a baseball still tears tendons and wrenches elbows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The main symptom is a crusted, flaky rash that often affects the elbows, knees, hands and feet.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
"I told myself, I'm going to sleep," Canonico recalled, up to her elbows in bandages following the ordeal.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Jack isn’t wearing his gloves anymore, and the thick sleeves of his jacket are rolled up to his elbows as he reaches into the muck.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
Becoming a content creator has officially elbowed out old standbys like doctor and astronaut as the job that Gen Z and Gen Alpha most aspire to have.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
Eyyub emerged from that chaotic reordering, and has since elbowed aside rivals to handle almost all of Rosneft’s shipments plus more oil from other Russian producers, the people familiar with his operations said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Even so, as data centers elbowed into residential areas, complaints about noise and more pushed officials to tighten oversight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 22, 2026
The 40-year-old was sent off as Portugal lost 2-0 in Dublin earlier in November when he elbowed Dara O'Shea in the back, for his first dismissal in 226 international appearances.
From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025
Aru elbowed her in the ribs and said, “We didn’t mean to, but we could get one?”
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
Hey, I’m sorry for elbowing you, Ryan Reynolds.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
Under Fifa's disciplinary code, Ronaldo should have received a three-match ban for elbowing Dara O'Shea during Portugal's 2-0 qualifying defeat by the Republic of Ireland in November.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
If these brilliant entities begin elbowing aside plodding humans, where does that leave us?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
What’s Next: Polymarket and rival Kalshi are seen elbowing in on sports betting market operators DraftKings and Flutter, which owns FanDuel.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2025
I am right behind them, elbowing my way past slow-movers through the lobby of Erudite headquarters, where the portrait of Jeanine Matthews still lies in shreds on the floor.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
