cable car

noun

: a vehicle moved by an endless cable:
a
: one suspended from an overhead cable
b
: one that moves along tracks

Examples of cable car in a Sentence

The skiers took a cable car to the top of the mountain. Tourists packed the cable cars on the hilly streets of San Francisco.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Further afield, there are cycling tours through local villages, treks through rainforests, even cable car rides. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Clanging cable cars still climb up and down the streets, although these days they’re joined by self-driving taxis, an ever-present reminder of the whirring tech scene. — Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 And, above all, in Montserrat, where pilgrims arrive by bus, cable car, cog railway and strenuous trails. — ABC News, 9 June 2026 Railroad ties of a former cable car track create its steep staircase, which ascends around 2,000 feet in less than a mile. — Abigail Bliss, Denver Post, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cable car

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cable car was in 1874

Rhymes for cable car

See All Rhymes for cable car

Browse Nearby Words

cable buoy
cable car
cablecast
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cable car.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cable%20car. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cable car

noun
: a car moved on tracks by an endless cable or along an overhead cable

More from Merriam-Webster on cable car

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cable car

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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