angle

1 of 4

noun (1)

an·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: a corner whether constituting a projecting part or a partially enclosed space
They sheltered in an angle of the building.
2
a
: the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
b
: a measure of an angle or of the amount of turning necessary to bring one line or plane into coincidence with or parallel to another
3
a
: the direction from which someone or something is approached
soldiers being attacked from every angle
a football player trying to get an angle on an opponent [=approach an opponent from an effective angle]
b
: the precise viewpoint from which something is observed or considered
a camera angle
consider the question from all angles
also : the aspect seen from such an angle
discuss all angles of the question
c(1)
: a special approach, point of attack, or technique for accomplishing an objective
try a new angle
(2)
: an often improper or illicit method of obtaining advantage
a salesman always looking for an angle
4
: a sharply divergent course
The road went off at an angle.
angled adjective

angle

2 of 4

verb (1)

angled; angling ˈaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce angle (audio)

intransitive verb

: to turn or proceed at an angle
The road angles up the hill.

transitive verb

1
: to turn, move, or direct at an angle
slipped the key in and angled it to one side
2
: to present (something, such as a news story) from a particular or prejudiced point of view : slant
angled stories toward the newspaper's political preferences

angle

3 of 4

verb (2)

angled; angling

intransitive verb

1
: to fish with a hook
2
: to use artful means to attain an objective
angled for an invitation

Angle

4 of 4

noun (2)

An·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce Angle (audio)
: a member of a Germanic people that invaded England along with the Saxons and Jutes in the fifth century a.d. and merged with them to form the Anglo-Saxon peoples

Examples of angle in a Sentence

Noun (1) The lines are at sharp angles to each other. Critics love the clever camera angles the director used in the film. She took pictures of the same scene from several different angles. The soldiers were being attacked from every angle. We need to approach the problem from a new angle. They considered the question from all angles. The reporter tried to work that angle into his story.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As the light from the setting sun hit at just the right angle, the water flowing from Horsetail Fall began to glow. Michael Levitt, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Yet remove the rain, the sunlight or the angle of view, and the rainbow goes away. Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The structured corset cinches Kardashian’s waist at an improbably steep angle, which is further emphasized by the generous padding at the hips. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 29 Feb. 2024 The angles had been mashed together because the prosecutor had used a regular VHS player instead of a machine for screening multiple views. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 For generations, its window frames had slanted sideways and its walls seemed to tilt at a near gravity-defying angle, delighting both patrons and passers-by. Megan Specia, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The company at present also doesn’t capture as many facial angles as Face ID in its enrollment process, though that will change as development continues. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 26 Feb. 2024 The football angle here is this: Araiza has landed with one of the NFL’s top special teams coaches in Dave Taub, and the Chiefs signed a punter in Araiza who can make a football field look small. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024 As my team and I suspected, sometimes what appeared to be a filament from one angle was a flat, sheetlike structure in projection. Nia Imara, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
But for now, several of the justices appeared to be angling for a potential outcome that would keep the laws on hold temporarily and allow lower courts to further review the impact on a wide range of internet sites. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 Producers and executives have been angling for early access, eager to assess the potential applications for filmmaking. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Intel also is angling for a chunk of the $52 billion that the U.S. Commerce Department plans to spread around in an effort to increase the country’s manufacturing capacity in the $527 billion market for processors, based on last year’s worldwide sales. Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2024 If setting up too narrowly causes your butt wink, try standing with your feet a bit wider and angling your toes slightly out, instead of pointing them directly forward, says Dr. Pagliano. Christa Sgobba, SELF, 22 Feb. 2024 No, the Russians would use the T-55s and hundreds of other restored obsolete tanks as crude howitzers: position them under cover many miles from the front, angle their guns high in the air and fire at the Ukrainians without risking direct return fire. David Axe, Forbes, 9 Feb. 2024 Despite that, with Netflix and other tech giants getting into live sports and angling for future sport rights held by legacy studios, Disney, Fox Corp. and Warner Bros. Discovery recently teamed up on a new company to combine their streaming sports rights. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024 Its five tweeters are positioned to provide a 360-degree effect and angled upward for projection, while a beefy 4-inch, high excursion woofer moves a lot of air to provide very satisfying bass. Brad Moon, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 After reports the Biden campaign was angling for an endorsement from the global superstar Taylor Swift, who backed Mr. Biden in 2020 but has steered clear of politics so far this cycle, was thrust into the Conservative political echo chamber. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024
Verb
Especially at their quirky ballpark, which has restricted real estate down the line in right, not just with the limited foul territory but with the corner angled in, just 309 feet from the plate. John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2023 This is the gold standard, holy grail, I'll-think-about-it-constantly version of a black circle skirt, with ample volume and angled pockets for nonchalantly slipping your hands in. Halie Lesavage, harpersbazaar.com, 7 Apr. 2023 Each person with a 2023 angling license was allowed 10 pounds. The Oregonian, oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2023 The sides are angled up and away from the skillet and the edges are flared and rolled down. Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2023 For optimum air circulation throughout a small- or medium-size room, our experts recommend angling the head at 90 degrees. Lynn Redmile, Good Housekeeping, 27 Mar. 2023 As many as 46 bidders were angling Tuesday to buy a blue and red Credit Suisse ski hat, priced at 111 Swiss francs ($120) on online Swiss marketplace Ricado.ch. Anna Cooban, CNN, 21 Mar. 2023 Berger sat angled slightly away from Parrish with a towel draped over her head as her teammate fielded the first question. Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2023 Connally, angling to impress Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in hopes he’d be named secretary of state or defense, asked leaders to send word to Iran not to release hostages before Election Day. Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 21 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'angle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, "corner, recess, two lines extending from the same point," borrowed from Anglo-French angle, aungle, going back to Latin angulus "two lines extending from the same point, corner, nook," going back to Indo-European *h2eng-lo-, *h2eng-elo-, whence also Old Church Slavic ǫgŭlŭ "corner, angle," Russian úgol, genitive uglá, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian ȕgao, ȕgla, Armenian ankiwn, and perhaps Germanic *ankula-, *ankila- ankle

Verb (1)

Middle English anglen "to meet at an angle," derivative of angle angle entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English anglen, derivative of angel "fishhook," going back to Old English angel, ongel, going back to Germanic *angula- "hook, barb" (whence also Old Saxon angul "fishhook," Old High German, "hook, barb," Old Norse ǫngull "fishhook"), going back to Indo-European *h2enk-ul-ó-, derivative, perhaps diminutive, of a base *h2enk- seen also in the n-stem noun *h2enk-ón- (whence Old English anga "prick, goad," Old High German ango "sting, barb, door hinge," Greek ankṓn "bend, elbow"), suffixed in Greek ankýlos "bent, crooked, curved," and as an o-grade derivative in Greek ónkos "barb of an arrow," Latin uncus "curved at the extremities, hooked, a hook," and probably Sanskrit aṅkáḥ "curve, hook"; *h2enk- perhaps attested as a primary verb in Sanskrit áñcati, ácati "(it) bends, curves"

Note: Indo-European *h2enk- appears to be synonymous with the base *h2eng- —see angle entry 1, ankle.

Noun (2)

Latin Angli, plural, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English Engle Angles

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of angle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near angle

Cite this Entry

“Angle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/angle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

angle

1 of 3 noun
an·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: a sharp projecting corner
2
: the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
3
: a measure of the amount that one line of an angle would have to be turned to be in exactly the same place as the other line
a 90-degree angle
4
: point of view, aspect
consider a problem from a new angle
5
: an often improper way of getting an advantage
a cheater looking for an angle
6
: a sharply curving course or direction
the road went off at an angle
angled adjective

angle

2 of 3 verb
angled; angling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: to turn, move, or direct at an angle
2
: to present (as a news story) from a particular point of view : slant

angle

3 of 3 verb
angled; angling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: to fish with hook and line
2
: to try to get what one wants in a sly way
angling for a promotion
Etymology

Noun

Middle English angle "corner," from early French angle (same meaning), from Latin angulus "angle"

Verb

derived from Old English angel "fishhook," from anga "hook"

Medical Definition

angle

noun
an·​gle ˈaŋ-gəl How to pronounce angle (audio)
1
: a corner whether constituting a projecting part or a partially enclosed space
2
a
: the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point
b
: a measure of an angle or of the amount of turning necessary to bring one line or plane into coincidence with or parallel to another
angled adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on angle

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