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 WebMichael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
That is a bigger part of what made the country willing to accept an authoritarian leader who promised to bring predatory businessmen to heel.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2024
Columbus used his foreknowledge of a lunar eclipse to force the Arawak residents of present-day Jamaica to heel in fear.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
An Omega watch and black suede heeled Christian Louboutin Chelsea boots completed his look.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The Grammy nominee also matched her bright red lipstick to a pair of cherry red crocodile print platform heels for her big night at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2024
After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2023
They’re unfortunately heeled by the resourcefulness of their latest victim, a Twin Peaks-era Madchen Amick (who’s assisted by a police officer’s tenacious cat, Clovis).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024
If her wrist heels quickly, Sorvino should be able to continue pursuing her DWTS happily-ever-after.
—EW.com, 17 Oct. 2023
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2024
Zendaya always captivates on the red carpet, thanks in a large part to her collaboration with her longtime stylist Law Roach — and her go-to heels.
—Athena Sobhan, Peoplemag, 10 May 2024
Manheim becomes the second star to depart L&O this season with her upcoming exit coming on the heels of original star Sam Waterston, who exited in February as D.A. Jack McCoy.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The figures come on the heels of a new study showing that over 321,000 children lost a parent due to drug overdose from 2011-2021.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 10 May 2024
The board’s decision comes on the heels of a letter from Gov. Greg Abbott ordering the Texas Education Agency to ignore the changes, which are supposed to take effect in August.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 May 2024
The burglary has only heightened concerns about security protocols at the company on the heels of an acquisition spree that saw its dramatic expansion.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
The letter came on the heels of a bipartisan bill that Congress passed and the president signed authorizing more military aid to Israel.
—USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
People who fled had to travel quickly through a rugged, mountainous terrain with Nazi guards on their heels.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 6 May 2024
Verb
Pegula brought the politicians to heel by threatening to move the team to Austin.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
That is a bigger part of what made the country willing to accept an authoritarian leader who promised to bring predatory businessmen to heel.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2024
Columbus used his foreknowledge of a lunar eclipse to force the Arawak residents of present-day Jamaica to heel in fear.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
An Omega watch and black suede heeled Christian Louboutin Chelsea boots completed his look.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The Grammy nominee also matched her bright red lipstick to a pair of cherry red crocodile print platform heels for her big night at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2024
After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2023
They’re unfortunately heeled by the resourcefulness of their latest victim, a Twin Peaks-era Madchen Amick (who’s assisted by a police officer’s tenacious cat, Clovis).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024
If her wrist heels quickly, Sorvino should be able to continue pursuing her DWTS happily-ever-after.
—EW.com, 17 Oct. 2023
Noun
This ultra-cushy pair from Rocket Dog is on my radar as a new addition to my shoe collection since they’re designed with comfort in mind, and padded heels and breathable canvas uppers make these shoes practically perfect for the summertime, taking me from day to night without ever causing blisters.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2024
Zendaya always captivates on the red carpet, thanks in a large part to her collaboration with her longtime stylist Law Roach — and her go-to heels.
—Athena Sobhan, Peoplemag, 10 May 2024
Manheim becomes the second star to depart L&O this season with her upcoming exit coming on the heels of original star Sam Waterston, who exited in February as D.A. Jack McCoy.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The figures come on the heels of a new study showing that over 321,000 children lost a parent due to drug overdose from 2011-2021.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 10 May 2024
The board’s decision comes on the heels of a letter from Gov. Greg Abbott ordering the Texas Education Agency to ignore the changes, which are supposed to take effect in August.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 May 2024
The burglary has only heightened concerns about security protocols at the company on the heels of an acquisition spree that saw its dramatic expansion.
—Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
The letter came on the heels of a bipartisan bill that Congress passed and the president signed authorizing more military aid to Israel.
—USA TODAY, 8 May 2024
People who fled had to travel quickly through a rugged, mountainous terrain with Nazi guards on their heels.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 6 May 2024
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 17 May. 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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