elevator
A machine like a small room that carries people up and down between different floors of a building. It is an essential form of vertical transportation in tall buildings to avoid using stairs.
Examples
3 of 5I am waiting for the elevator to go to the fifth floor.
I am waiting for the elevator to go to the fifth floor.
Please utilize the elevator located at the rear of the building for wheelchair access.
Please utilize the elevator located at the rear of the building for wheelchair access.
The elevator's taking forever, let's just walk up.
The elevator's taking forever, let's just walk up.
Word Family
Memory Tip
The word 'elevator' comes from 'elevate,' which means to lift something up. Think of an elevator elevating you to the top floor.
Quick Quiz
The office is on the 20th floor, so please use the _______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: elevator
Examples
I am waiting for the elevator to go to the fifth floor.
everydayI am waiting for the elevator to go to the fifth floor.
Please utilize the elevator located at the rear of the building for wheelchair access.
formalPlease utilize the elevator located at the rear of the building for wheelchair access.
The elevator's taking forever, let's just walk up.
informalThe elevator's taking forever, let's just walk up.
The installation of the high-speed elevator significantly improved building efficiency.
academicThe installation of the high-speed elevator significantly improved building efficiency.
Our office is on the top floor, so we use the elevator every morning.
businessOur office is on the top floor, so we use the elevator every morning.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
elevator pitch
a short summary used to quickly persuade someone
elevator music
soft, pleasant, and often boring background music
stuck in the elevator
when the machine stops moving and you cannot get out
Often Confused With
An elevator is a closed room that moves vertically, while an escalator is a moving staircase.
'Elevator' is American English, whereas 'lift' is the standard term in British English.
Usage Notes
The word 'elevator' is primarily used in North America. In buildings, you 'press' the button to call it and 'get in' or 'get out' of it.
Common Mistakes
Beginners sometimes use 'on the elevator' when they mean they are inside it; 'in the elevator' is more common for the physical space.
Memory Tip
The word 'elevator' comes from 'elevate,' which means to lift something up. Think of an elevator elevating you to the top floor.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'elevare', meaning to raise or lift up, combined with the suffix '-or' denoting a person or thing that performs an action.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many US buildings, the 'first floor' is at street level, while in Europe it is often the floor above the ground floor, affecting elevator button labels.
Quick Quiz
The office is on the 20th floor, so please use the _______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: elevator
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
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bed
A1A piece of furniture that you sleep on, typically consisting of a mattress on a frame. In the context of travel, it refers to the sleeping accommodation provided in a hotel or hostel.
check-out
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