escalator

American  

[es-kuh-ley-ter] / ˈɛs kəˌleɪ tər /

noun

1. a continuously moving staircase on an endless loop for carrying passengers up or down.

2. a means of rising or descending, increasing or decreasing, etc., especially by stages.

   the social escalator.

3. escalator clause.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or included in an escalator clause.

   The union demands escalator protection of wages.

escalator British  

/ ˈɛskəˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a moving staircase consisting of stair treads fixed to a conveyor belt, for transporting passengers between levels, esp between the floors of a building

2. short for escalator clause

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Etymology

Origin of escalator

An Americanism first recorded in 1895–1900; formerly a trademark; perhaps escal(ade) + (elev)ator

Explanation

An escalator is a motorized stairway that moves people up and down flights. When you get on an escalator, you can stand still and let it carry you. If you want to really annoy the people behind you, stand to the left on the escalator and block their passage. It's common for shopping malls, airports, and other large, public buildings to provide escalators as a way for people to get from one floor to another. An escalator works by moving a large belt of linked steps with a motor — each step seems to disappear as it moves parallel with the floor at your destination. In 1900, the Otis Elevator Company coined the word escalator, from escalade, "use ladders to scale a wall."

Example Sentences

Before boarding an escalator, one must pass a gargantuan wrap-around ad big enough to sport the film’s entire cast, including supporting players Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

Stocks usually take the escalator up and the elevator down.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Kim said: "Horrible, they are so steep. An escalator would be good, as it's quite a thought to come up them."

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

The best explanation I got was: Imagine there’s an escalator that takes you up, but when you get to the top of the escalator you’re down.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

A boisterous group wearing black-and-orange jerseys rode up the escalator.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman