wheeler

noun

wheel·​er ˈ(h)wē-lər 

1

: one that wheels

2

: a draft animal (such as a horse) pulling in the position nearest the front wheels of a wagon

3

: something (such as a vehicle or ship) that has wheels

—used especially in combination

a side-wheeler

18-wheelers

Examples of wheeler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Randolph and his officers were at the scene of an 18-wheeler crash and fire on Interstate 35W in the dark of early morning in August 2024. —Emerson Clarridge updated March 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026

Crosby finally came to a stop after slamming into and wedging his SUV under an 18-wheeler truck parked nearby. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026

An Amtrak train carrying more than 100 people collided with an 18-wheeler in Texas on Tuesday morning, officials confirmed. —Joe Kottke, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026

Nick Ramsden, a farmer from Pretoria, South Africa, spent a long Thursday in July driving an eighteen-wheeler along a three-mile loop at the Nelson-King Farms, in rural Mississippi. —Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wheeler

• eighteen-wheeler
• four-wheeler
• paddle wheeler
• stern-wheeler
• three-wheeler
• two-wheeler
• wheeler and dealer
• wheeler-dealer

Rhymes for wheeler

• dealer
• feeler
• healer
• keeler
• peeler
• sealer
• stealer
• repealer
• revealer

Kids Definition

wheeler

noun

wheel·​er ˈhwē-lər 

ˈwē-

: one of a team of horses that pulls from the position nearest the front wheels of a wagon

Biographical Definition

Wheeler 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Whee·​ler ˈ(h)wē-lər 

Joseph 1836–1906 American general

Wheeler

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

William Almon 1819–1887 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1877–81)