Definition of birlnext
chiefly Scottish
as in to drink
to take part in drunken revelry spent a good part of his time in Edinburgh birling into the wee small hours of the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of birl There was sea salt in the air, and sleepless seagulls were birling in the darkness overhead. Douglas Stuart, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2020 In some parts of the United States, birling contests are annual events. Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 16 Feb. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birl
Verb
  • Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
  • George has a particular fondness for drinking out of my watering can.
    Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But that doesn’t add much beyond three crusty Báthory ancestors carousing drunkenly in their coffins.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
  • When Hedda and Eileen were wild together, Eileen’s drinking and carousing was a problem, but she’s put all that wickedness behind her, mostly thanks to the love of Thea Clifton (a delicate Imogen Poots), who has also just arrived at the mansion for the world’s worst party.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The team is set to revel at E11EVEN MIAMI nightclub later in the night.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Feb. 2026
  • That is his and his players’ responsibility, but for everyone else involved with Palace, this was a day in which to revel.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • At a moment’s notice, those willing to subscribe to a streaming service can binge Mad Men, The Wire, Band of Brothers, and other classics of TV’s golden age.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Paramount+ has historically seen higher churn but UFC fans should make for stickier subscribers—traditional sports leagues have off-seasons and TV shows can be quickly binged, but the UFC’s programming is ongoing.
    Andrew Root, Sportico.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • One of his sons, Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman), though hardly old enough to be in long pants, wears shining armor, while the other son, Hal (Timothée Chalamet), is a slouch who wastes his life in roistering.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2019
Verb
  • Some speculate that wassailing predates Christianity in the region; others note its association with the Christian holiday of Twelfth Night.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 24 Dec. 2025
  • In addition to the live music in Caldwell Hall, there's also an opportunity to join an English tradition: wassailing around the apple tree, a ritual to inspire a bountiful harvest in the year ahead.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 19 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Birl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birl. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.

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