1
a
: the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
b
: the part of the hind limb of other vertebrates that is similar in structure to the human heel
nipping at the cow's heels
2
: an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel
especially
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands —
Warren Eyster
Warren Eyster 3
: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
4
a
: the part (as of a shoe) that covers the human heel
b
: a solid attachment of a shoe or boot forming the back of the sole under the heel of the foot
squashed the bug with his boot heel
5
: a rear, low, or bottom part: such as
b
: the base of a tuber or cutting of a plant used for propagation of the plant
c
: the base of a ladder
6
a
: a contemptible person : a person who is self-centered or untrustworthy
felt like a heel
a few heels who appear to get away with it—Frank Case
Frank Case
b
professional wrestling
: a wrestler who performs the role of the unsympathetic antagonist or adversary in a staged wrestling match
In the traditional morality plays of professional wrestling, grapplers divided into good guys, or "baby faces," and black-hatted "heels."—John Leland
compare baby face sense 2
John Leland
heeled; heeling; heels
1
a
: to furnish (a boot, a shoe, etc.) with a solid attachment forming the part of the sole that is under the back of the foot : to attach a heel (see heel entry 1 sense 4b) to
b
: to supply especially with money or information
better heeled but still not flush
I want to be heeled when they book him—R. P. Warren
R. P. Warren2
a
: to exert pressure on, propel, or strike (someone or something) with the back part of the foot
heeled her horse
b
: to urge (a lagging animal) by following closely or by nipping at the heels
dogs heeling cattle
: to move along near the back of someone's feet : to stay at someone's heels
taught the dog to heel
heeled; heeling; heels
: to lean to one side : tip
especially, of a boat or ship
: to lean temporarily (as from the action of wind or waves)
kept heeling to the left
compare list entry 3
: to cause (a boat) to lean to one side
heeling the sloop well over and skimming her along to windward—K. M. Dodson
K. M. Dodson
: a tilt (as of a boat) to one side
also
: the extent of such a tilt
a heel of six degrees to starboard
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bastard
- beast
- bleeder [British]
- blighter [chiefly British]
- boor
- bounder
- bugger
- buzzard
- cad
- chuff
- churl
- clown
- creep
- cretin
- crud [slang]
- crumb [slang]
- cur
- dirtbag [slang]
- dog
- fink
- hound
- jerk
- joker
- louse
- lout
- pill
- rat
- rat fink
- reptile
- rotter
- schmuck [slang]
- scum
- scumbag [slang]
- scuzzball [slang]
- skunk
- sleaze
- sleazebag [slang]
- sleazeball [slang]
- slime
- slimeball [slang]
- slob
- snake
- so-and-so
- sod [chiefly British]
- stinkard
- stinker
- swine
- toad
- varmint
- vermin
Verb (2)
Examples of heel in a Sentence
Noun (1)
felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person
Verb (2)
the strong gust heeled the sailboat almost to the point of capsizing, but we managed to right it
Recent Examples on the WebElise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024
The Land Rover heeled to the right in a spray of gravel.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Maybe the Street Profits will turn heel all over again coming out of this.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Financials and Valuation In its early years, profitability was Uber’s achilles heel, but since 2018, the company’s revenue is up by a whopping 300%, and doubts about the company’s ability to turn sustained profits diminished in recent years.
—Ken Berman, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heel 
Verb
Théo waited for her in front of the Sky series canvas in a Lanvin tuxedo, Tanner Fletcher shirt, and heeled Saint Laurent dress shoes.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2024
The Land Rover heeled to the right in a spray of gravel.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Maybe the Street Profits will turn heel all over again coming out of this.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Financials and Valuation In its early years, profitability was Uber’s achilles heel, but since 2018, the company’s revenue is up by a whopping 300%, and doubts about the company’s ability to turn sustained profits diminished in recent years.
—Ken Berman, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for heel
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heel.' 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 heel
Cite this Entry
“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heel. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heel
1 of 4 noun1
a
: the back part of the human foot behind the arch and below the ankle
also
: the corresponding part of a lower vertebrate
b
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
2
: a part (as of a shoe) that covers or supports the human heel
3
: a lower, back, or end part
especially
: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
4
: a person who deserves contempt
heel
2 of 4 verb
: to provide with a heel
heeler
noun
ˈhē-lər
heel
3 of 4 verb
: to tilt to one side : tip
heel
4 of 4 noun
: a tilt to one side
Etymology
Noun
Old English hēla "back part of the foot"
Verb
Old English hieldan "to lean to one side"
Medical Definition
heel
noun1
a
: the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
b
: the back of the hind limb of other vertebrates homologous with the human heel
2
: an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel: as
a
: the hind part of a hoof
b
: either of the projections of a coffin bone
c
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
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