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
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
Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2024
This confession comes on the heels of a beautiful account of the challenges her boys will face in a world such as ours as well as her gentle and loving effort to hand over to them the beauty and power of their inheritances.
—Eddie S. Glaude Jr., TIME, 27 Apr. 2024
Popular on Variety These sneakers come in white, sail, cement gray and cosmic clay colorways with an elephant print detailing on their heels that offers an instantly iconic and stylish look.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
The relatively so-so first quarter comes on the heels of lower profits in 2023, which were still $36 billion, but lower than the 2022 record high of $55.7 billion following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
The new TikTok law comes on the heels of years of national debate surrounding potential national security risks posed by the platform.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 26 Apr. 2024
The set comes on the heels of her upcoming first-ever North American trek, set to kick off May 21.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
The announcement came on the heels of the mayor traveling to New York City to meet with MLS Commissioner Don Garber and instructing his staff to begin the process to establish another professional sports development area downtown.
—Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Apr. 2024
The decision to raise the cost of a card also comes on the heels of major changes to Delta’s loyalty program with the airline choosing to just count Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) toward elite status.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 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
Lachey’s post come on the heels of multiple fans, cast and crew expressing their sadness and frustration over the news.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2024
This confession comes on the heels of a beautiful account of the challenges her boys will face in a world such as ours as well as her gentle and loving effort to hand over to them the beauty and power of their inheritances.
—Eddie S. Glaude Jr., TIME, 27 Apr. 2024
Popular on Variety These sneakers come in white, sail, cement gray and cosmic clay colorways with an elephant print detailing on their heels that offers an instantly iconic and stylish look.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
The relatively so-so first quarter comes on the heels of lower profits in 2023, which were still $36 billion, but lower than the 2022 record high of $55.7 billion following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
The new TikTok law comes on the heels of years of national debate surrounding potential national security risks posed by the platform.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 26 Apr. 2024
The set comes on the heels of her upcoming first-ever North American trek, set to kick off May 21.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
The announcement came on the heels of the mayor traveling to New York City to meet with MLS Commissioner Don Garber and instructing his staff to begin the process to establish another professional sports development area downtown.
—Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Apr. 2024
The decision to raise the cost of a card also comes on the heels of major changes to Delta’s loyalty program with the airline choosing to just count Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) toward elite status.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 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 1 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 despicable person
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share