wheelie

noun

wheel·​ie ˈ(h)wē-lē How to pronounce wheelie (audio)
: a maneuver in which a wheeled vehicle (such as a bicycle) is momentarily balanced on its rear wheel or wheels

Examples of wheelie in a Sentence

He did a wheelie on his bike.
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.
In November 2017, the rapper Meek Mill was arrested in Manhattan for popping a wheelie on a motorcycle. Jelani Cobb, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024 In addition to Crawford’s testimony, jurors watched helicopter video of the chase that began with a group of bikers, including Barreto, weaving through traffic, running red lights and at moments riding into oncoming traffic and popping wheelies. Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024 Zoom in: Existing law already prohibited street racing, but new language adds doughnuts, burnouts, drifting, and wheelies to that definition. Sam Allard, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024 There's nothing quite like pulling a wheelie on a motorcycle for firing up the adrenalin glands. Mike Hanlon, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wheelie 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheelie was circa 1965

Dictionary Entries Near wheelie

Cite this Entry

“Wheelie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheelie. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!