pileup
noun
pile·up
ˈpī(-ə)l-ˌəp 
1
: a collision involving usually several motor vehicles
2
a
: a jammed tangled mass or pile (as of motor vehicles or people) resulting from collision or accumulation
b
Examples of pileup in a Sentence
A five-car pileup slowed traffic.
a pileup of e-mail messages that needed to be dealt with
Recent Examples on the Web
The likes of Neva and UFO 50 followed suit, carving a place amongst the likes of the Silent Hill 2 remake and Astro Bot as titles that managed to maintain players and critics’ attention even in a crowded end of year pileup.
—
Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
While traveling through Atoka County, Oklahoma, the two women, and a third 16-year-old passenger, were involved in a five-vehicle pileup, according to KTUL.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2025
According to Paxton, two people died in the pileup involving more than 20 vehicles, including several tractor-trailers and 13 passenger vehicles, per USA Today.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Much of the speculation behind the about-face was tied to concerns about package pileups as customs officers would be ill-equipped to process and inspect a flurry of goods that didn’t previously require the attention.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pileup
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Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025
While traveling through Atoka County, Oklahoma, the two women, and a third 16-year-old passenger, were involved in a five-vehicle pileup, according to KTUL.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Apr. 2025
According to Paxton, two people died in the pileup involving more than 20 vehicles, including several tractor-trailers and 13 passenger vehicles, per USA Today.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Much of the speculation behind the about-face was tied to concerns about package pileups as customs officers would be ill-equipped to process and inspect a flurry of goods that didn’t previously require the attention.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pileup
Cite this Entry
“Pileup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pileup. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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