# escalator

/ˈɛskəˌɫeɪtɝ/ (US) · /ˈɛskɐlˌeɪtɐ/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/escalator
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a set of moving stairs that carries people between different floors of a building. You usually find them in places like shopping malls or train stations.

For teachers: a power-driven set of stairs, arranged as a continuous loop, used for transporting people between different levels of a building.

## Examples

- The escalator is broken, so we have to take the stairs.
- The department store installed a new escalator to help shoppers move more quickly between the clothing and home goods floors.
- Modern urban transit hubs rely on high-capacity escalators to manage the constant flow of commuters moving from deep underground platforms to the street level during peak hours.

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