elbow room

noun

Room (space) in which to move or maneuver.

“There wasn't that much elbow room in the aircraft.”

Similar
roomway
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Meanings

nounelbow room (uncountable)

alternative elbowroom

  1. uncountableRoom (space) in which to move or maneuver.

    There wasn't that much elbow room in the aircraft.

  2. figurativelyuncountableFreedom or leeway.

    The employees really don't have much elbow room in which to explore new ideas.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounspace for movement

Similar
roomway
Broader
positionspatial relation
Also see
roomwaywiggle room

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 空間 /空间, 自由度
  • 空間 /空间 (kōngjiān)room or space in which to move or maneuver
  • 自由度 (zìyóudù)freedom or leeway
  • 餘地 /余地 (yúdì)freedom or leeway
  • 退路 (tuìlù)freedom or leeway
Danish albuerum, albuerum
  • albuerumroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • albuerumfreedom or leeway
Finnish kyynärpäätila, tila
  • kyynärpäätilaroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • tilafreedom or leeway
French place, espace
  • placeroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • espaceroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • liberté d'actionfreedom or leeway
  • marge de manœuvrefreedom or leeway
German Ellbogenfreiheit, Bewegungsfreiheit
  • Ellbogenfreiheitroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • Bewegungsfreiheitfreedom or leeway
  • Ellbogenfreiheitfreedom or leeway
  • Spielraumfreedom or leeway
Hungarian mozgástér, mozgástér
  • mozgástérroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • mozgástérfreedom or leeway
Italian libertà di manovra, libertà di manovra
  • libertà di manovraroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • libertà di manovrafreedom or leeway
Japanese 余地, 余裕
  • 余地 (yochi)room or space in which to move or maneuver
  • 余裕 (yoyū)room or space in which to move or maneuver
  • 余地 (yochi)freedom or leeway
  • 自由裁量 (jiyūsairyō)freedom or leeway
Korean elbow room
  • elbow roomfreedom or leeway
Norwegian Bokmål albuerom, alburom
  • albueromroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • alburomroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • albueromfreedom or leeway
  • alburomfreedom or leeway
Polish przestrzeń, miejsce
  • przestrzeńroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • miejsceroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • swobodafreedom or leeway
Russian ме́сто, просто́р
  • ме́сто (mésto)room or space in which to move or maneuver
  • просто́р (prostór)freedom or leeway
Swedish armbågsrum, svängrum
  • armbågsrumroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • svängrumroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • utrymmeroom or space in which to move or maneuver
  • svängrumfreedom or leeway
  • spelrumfreedom or leeway
Cite this entry
APA

elbow room. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elbow%20room

MLA

“elbow room.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elbow%20room. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “elbow room,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elbow%20room.

Source: elbow room on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.