# elbow

/ˈɛɫˌboʊ/ (US) · /ˈɛlbəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/elbow
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. body part

noun · CEFR A2

the joint in the middle of your arm where it bends.

For teachers: the joint between the upper arm and the forearm.

- He rested his elbows on the table while he waited for his coffee.
- The athlete suffered a minor fracture to his left elbow during the final minutes of the championship match.

### 2. a bend or pipe fitting

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a sharp turn or bend in something, like a pipe or a wall.

For teachers: an angular or jointed part of a structure, such as a short pipe fitting used to change direction.

- The plumber replaced the leaking elbow under the kitchen sink.
- The ventilation system required a custom-made elbow to navigate the narrow space between the ceiling joists.

### 3. to push through

verb · CEFR B2

to push people with your elbows to get past them in a crowd.

For teachers: to push or jostle others using the elbows, typically to force a passage through a crowded area.

- She had to elbow her way through the crowd to reach the train.
- Commuters frequently elbowed past one another in their desperate rush to board the final express train of the evening.

### 4. to hit someone

verb · CEFR B2

to strike someone using your elbow.

For teachers: to deliver a blow with the elbow, often used in the context of contact sports or physical altercations.

- The player was sent off after he accidentally elbowed the defender.
- The referee issued a yellow card after the striker elbowed his opponent while competing for a header in the penalty area.

### 5. to force someone out

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to force someone out of a job or a position so someone else can take it.

For teachers: to dismiss or displace someone from a position or role, often to make room for a preferred alternative.

- He felt he was being elbowed out of the project by the new manager.
- Several senior partners were effectively elbowed out of the firm following the aggressive merger last spring.

Usage: Often used with 'out'.

## Examples

- He rested his elbows on the table while he ate.
- She accidentally hit her elbow against the door frame, causing a sharp pain to shoot down her arm.
- The athlete suffered a repetitive strain injury in his left elbow, necessitating several months of physical therapy to regain full range of motion before the next season.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.