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
Synonyms
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
Staff and Wire Reports, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
And some of it may rise from the constant dissonance of her existence since her last glimpse of her son, on a cell phone video, a tourniquet on his left arm, which had been severed below the elbow by the terrorist attack.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
This felt deeper: an ache that spread throughout her shoulder, down to her elbow.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
But, for the first time since his 2021 elbow injury, and the two-year plunge in production that followed it, the 33-year-old slugger is starting to feel more like his old self at the plate again.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead, Snow demonstrates how an eating disorder presents itself in life, haunting the present with past pain that manifests as self-hatred.
Montages of necklines, knees, elbows and legs highlight how Riley is clocking other women's bodies, her mind constantly comparing.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
He was shown a straight red card for thrusting his elbow at center back Al-Bulayhi’s chest and throat, then appeared to raise his fist towards the referee.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The Knicks remain without OG Anunoby (right elbow tendinopathy) and Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) on Tuesday against the Heat.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
Frankel suffered shoulder and elbow injuries as well as nerve damage, according to the lawsuit.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
All season long, Burns has been a fan favorite for North Carolina State, the 11-seed that elbowed its way into this year's NCAA basketball tournament.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Daddy’s Chicken Shack opened its second Texas location in Colleyville last month — elbowing its way into a region that has no shortage of fried chicken joints.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
The resulting surge in demand for used cars caused those prices to surge, too, elbowing many people out of the auto market entirely.
—Tom Krisher, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024
The former House speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.), was walking through the halls with his security team when he was charged with elbowing a kidney of Rep. Tim Burchett (R., Tenn.), who’d been part of the successful effort to remove him as speaker.
—Peggy Noonan, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023
Sabonis bullied Davis into the block, spun, elbowed him in the jaw and scored, the Kings center running back while Davis stayed on the court.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
In the wake of violent unrest in January 2022, Nazarbayev was elbowed aside by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev from his security council post and lost key policymaking privileges.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
But what about a pitcher who will turn age 37 in March, had shoulder surgery in 2016 and elbow surgery in 2022 (as well as in 2004)?
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
Noun
The right-hander had just five strikeouts in his first three starts after missing much of last season with a sprained elbow.
—Staff and Wire Reports, The Mercury News, 20 Apr. 2024
And some of it may rise from the constant dissonance of her existence since her last glimpse of her son, on a cell phone video, a tourniquet on his left arm, which had been severed below the elbow by the terrorist attack.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
This felt deeper: an ache that spread throughout her shoulder, down to her elbow.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
But, for the first time since his 2021 elbow injury, and the two-year plunge in production that followed it, the 33-year-old slugger is starting to feel more like his old self at the plate again.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Instead, Snow demonstrates how an eating disorder presents itself in life, haunting the present with past pain that manifests as self-hatred.
Montages of necklines, knees, elbows and legs highlight how Riley is clocking other women's bodies, her mind constantly comparing.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
He was shown a straight red card for thrusting his elbow at center back Al-Bulayhi’s chest and throat, then appeared to raise his fist towards the referee.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
The Knicks remain without OG Anunoby (right elbow tendinopathy) and Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) on Tuesday against the Heat.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
Frankel suffered shoulder and elbow injuries as well as nerve damage, according to the lawsuit.
—Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
He was banished to the locker room by the refs after elbowing the Hornets’ Nick Richards in the jaw with 6:34 left in the second quarter.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
All season long, Burns has been a fan favorite for North Carolina State, the 11-seed that elbowed its way into this year's NCAA basketball tournament.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
Daddy’s Chicken Shack opened its second Texas location in Colleyville last month — elbowing its way into a region that has no shortage of fried chicken joints.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
The resulting surge in demand for used cars caused those prices to surge, too, elbowing many people out of the auto market entirely.
—Tom Krisher, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2024
The former House speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.), was walking through the halls with his security team when he was charged with elbowing a kidney of Rep. Tim Burchett (R., Tenn.), who’d been part of the successful effort to remove him as speaker.
—Peggy Noonan, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2023
Sabonis bullied Davis into the block, spun, elbowed him in the jaw and scored, the Kings center running back while Davis stayed on the court.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
In the wake of violent unrest in January 2022, Nazarbayev was elbowed aside by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev from his security council post and lost key policymaking privileges.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024
But what about a pitcher who will turn age 37 in March, had shoulder surgery in 2016 and elbow surgery in 2022 (as well as in 2004)?
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elbow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near elbow
Cite this Entry
“Elbow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elbow. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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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