Words / A2
noun · A2Elevator
EL-iv-ayt-uh/ˈelɪveɪtə/
An elevator carries people up and down in a building (especially American English): take the elevator, elevator doors, out of order. Lift is the usual British word. Escalator is moving stairs — mix-up. Do not write elevator when you mean escalator, or lift as if Americans never say elevator.
Meaning
A machine that carries people up and down in a building (especially American English).
Examples
- “Take the elevator to the fifth-floor ticket office.”
- “The elevator was full, so we used the stairs with the cases.”
- “Signs said “elevator” in the US airport, not “lift”.”
Good to know
take the elevator (US). British: lift. Mix-up: escalator (moving stairs).
Near in meaning
lift
New