1
a
: the joint of the human arm
b
: a corresponding joint in the anterior limb of a lower vertebrate
2
: something (such as macaroni or an angular pipe fitting) resembling an elbow
elbowed; elbowing; elbows
1
a
: to push with the elbow : jostle
b
: to shove aside by pushing with or as if with the elbow
people elbowed each other to get a better view
2
: to force (one's way) by pushing with or as if with the elbow
elbowing our way through the crowd
Examples of elbow in a Sentence
Noun
He wore a tattered coat with holes in the elbows.
Verb
The actor's bodyguards rudely elbowed everyone out of the way.
Everyone was shoving and elbowing to get a good position.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 May 2025
The sharp elbows and sweat equity generated more possessions to offset 39.1 percent shooting from the field and helped the Warriors take a 1-0 lead in the series despite only having Steph Curry for 13 minutes in the game because of a hamstring injury.
—Anthony Slater, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2025
Stripe’s Patrick Collison teased a stablecoin product his team has been wanting to build for years, while Circle, preparing for its IPO, outlined a payment network meant to elbow past SWIFT—and potentially Visa and Mastercard.
—Christian Catalini, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elbow
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Noun
Lower your body slowly by bending at the elbows until your forearms create a 90-degree angle.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 May 2025
The sharp elbows and sweat equity generated more possessions to offset 39.1 percent shooting from the field and helped the Warriors take a 1-0 lead in the series despite only having Steph Curry for 13 minutes in the game because of a hamstring injury.
—Anthony Slater, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Verb
The 26-year-old Woll replaced Stolarz midway through Monday’s opener after he was elbowed in the head by Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the second period, which sent the goalie to the ice.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2025
Stripe’s Patrick Collison teased a stablecoin product his team has been wanting to build for years, while Circle, preparing for its IPO, outlined a payment network meant to elbow past SWIFT—and potentially Visa and Mastercard.
—Christian Catalini, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elbow
Cite this Entry
“Elbow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elbow. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
elbow
1 of 2 noun
el·bow
ˈel-ˌbō 
1
a
: the joint of the arm
also
: the outer curve of a bent arm
b
: a corresponding joint in the front limb of an animal
2
: a part (as of a pipe) bent like an elbow
elbow
2 of 2 verb1
: to push or shove with the elbow : jostle
2
: to advance by or as if by pushing with the elbow
elbowed his way to the front
Medical Definition
elbow
noun
el·bow
ˈel-ˌbō
1
: the joint between the human forearm and the upper arm that supports the outer curve of the arm when bent
called also elbow joint
2
: a joint in the anterior limb of a lower vertebrate corresponding to the elbow
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