elevator

American  

[el-uh-vay-ter] / ˈɛl əˌveɪ tər /

noun

• elevators
  plural

1. a person or thing that elevates or raises.

2. a moving platform or cage for carrying passengers or freight from one level to another, as in a building.

3. any of various mechanical devices for raising objects or materials.

4. a building in which grain is stored and handled by means of mechanical elevator and conveyor devices.

5. Aeronautics. a hinged horizontal surface on an airplane or the like, used to control the longitudinal inclination and usually placed at the tail end of the fuselage.

6. elevator shoe.

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elevator British  

/ ˈɛlɪˌveɪtə /

noun

1. a person or thing that elevates

2. a mechanical hoist for raising something, esp grain or coal, often consisting of a chain of scoops linked together on a conveyor belt

3. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): lift. a platform, compartment, or cage raised or lowered in a vertical shaft to transport persons or goods in a building

4. a large granary equipped with an elevator and, usually, facilities for cleaning and grading the grain

5. any muscle that raises a part of the body

6. a surgical instrument for lifting a part of the body

7. a control surface on the tailplane of an aircraft, for making it climb or descend

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• elevators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of elevator

1640–50; < Late Latin ēlevātor, equivalent to ēlevā ( re ) ( see elevate) + -tor -tor

Explanation

An elevator is a machine that carries passengers to higher and lower floors in a tall building. Even though you usually take the stairs to your apartment, when you're exhausted you might decide to take the elevator instead. Most elevators run on electricity, although in the 19th century the first elevators used steam power to move heavy goods in coal mines. Today, elevators are legally required in tall buildings, so that people who aren't able to climb stairs have access to all floors. In the 1640's, elevator meant "muscles used to raise the body," from the Latin elevator, "one who raises up."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elevator elevators

The renovation will include internal work, such as upgrades to the building's mechanical, elevator, electrical and air handling systems.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Others perched on the wall surrounding the elevator exit of a closed-off metro station.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

She rushed into her elevator, terrified by the thought that when the doors reopened he would be standing on the other side, she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

An attractive amenity is the private entrance with an elevator that opens directly into her apartment.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

To find out, they took turns riding a specially adapted elevator in Moscow’s tallest building.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

If the HOA has a shortfall of funds or doesn’t properly maintain common areas such as elevators and swimming pools, the burden falls on all homeowners in the HOA to pay for repairs.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026

On the 13th floor of a high rise, elevators open up to a light-filled office with cactus plants, a small library and a coffee bar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

SoFi Stadium aced the physical infrastructure with working elevators, wheelchair escorts and accessible seating with clear sightlines on every level.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

They also work at a low frequency and are able to penetrate buildings and elevators and particularly hospitals - which can have thickened walls to protect people from X-rays and other radiation.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

“These are the staff elevators. All employees are required to use these elevators unless they are escorting customers.”

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• escalator