angle

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noun (1)

an·gle ˈaŋ-gəl

Synonyms of angle next

: a corner whether constituting a projecting part or a partially enclosed space

They sheltered in an angle of the building.

: the figure formed by two lines extending from the same point

also : dihedral angle

: 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

: 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]

: 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

: a sharply divergent course

The road went off at an angle.

angled

ˈaŋ-gəld

adjective

angle

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verb (1)

angled; angling ˈaŋ-g(ə-)liŋ

intransitive verb

: to turn or proceed at an angle

The road angles up the hill.

transitive verb

: to turn, move, or direct at an angle

slipped the key in and angled it to one side

: 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

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verb (2)

angled; angling

intransitive verb

: to fish with a hook

: to use artful means to attain an objective

angled for an invitation

Angle

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noun (2)

An·gle ˈaŋ-gəl

: 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

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Coach Cooley also has a reputation for these situations, an angle worth playing. OH only. —

Tanner Mcgrath, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2023 The exterior camera has a smaller viewing angle than the interior camera. —

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 15 Feb. 2023 Its blade is stain- and rust-proof and has a 16-degree angle, which makes slicing, mincing, chopping, (and other kitchen tasks) a breeze. —

Audrey Bruno, SELF, 27 Jan. 2023 Over three hours of testimony and questioning, nearly every senator attending had at least some angle to criticize the firm. —

August Brown, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Jan. 2023 My favorite restaurant stories are the ones that have a powerful human angle in addition to the culinary one. —

Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2023 Over three hours of testimony and questioning, nearly every senator attending had at least some angle to criticize the firm. —

Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2023 By running at the 2i, the guard has a great angle to block down inside or double with the center. —

Lance Reisland, cleveland, 21 Jan. 2023 Some stands also have a wider leg angle, creating a broader base, creating stability. —

Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 17 Jan. 2023

Verb

Turn the left foot out 90º and angle the right foot in slightly. —

Good Housekeeping, 6 Jan. 2023 By using Earth’s magnetic field to orient itself and angle its sails toward our star, LightSail 2 can control its own movements. —

Korey Haynes, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2019 Dragonflies that capture prey by intercepting them mid-air, angle themselves beforehand. —

Darren Incorvaia, Discover Magazine, 6 Sep. 2022 At least 59% of all tech jobs as of September were outside the tech sector itself, according to the industry group CompTIA, as a variety of other employers angle for more tech hires, including people cut from Silicon Valley firms. —

J.j. Mccorvey, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2023 When Tom puts his water bottle in the 2022 Tundra, the shape of the door panel forces it to angle out. —

Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 9 Jan. 2023 When Bobby Hurley left the next year to become Buffalo’s coach in 2013, Oats did not want to expressly angle for his vacancy at Rhode Island. —

Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 25 Nov. 2022 Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett will angle to his right, and force left guard Andrus Peat to block him. —

Lance Reisland, cleveland, 23 Dec. 2022 Heidi Klum stretches out on the floor, prone on a red carpet that’s actually blue while photographers angle for their shots. —

WIRED, 4 Nov. 2022

Verb

My father taught me to angle the blinds so that no one could see inside. —

Leslie Nguyen-okwu, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 May 2021 The Eagles defensive line will angle to its right with Mills responsible for D-gap. —

Lance Reisland, cleveland, 19 Jan. 2023 The directing duo Amber Templemore-Finlayson and Katie Ellwood, better known as Bert & Bertie, along with Rhys Thomas, will angle for recognition for helming their respective episodes. —

Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 June 2022 At least 59% of all tech jobs as of September were outside the tech sector itself, according to the industry group CompTIA, as a variety of other employers angle for more tech hires, including people cut from Silicon Valley firms. —

J.j. Mccorvey, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2023 When Tom puts his water bottle in the 2022 Tundra, the shape of the door panel forces it to angle out. —

Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 9 Jan. 2023 Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett will angle to his right, and force left guard Andrus Peat to block him. —

Lance Reisland, cleveland, 23 Dec. 2022 Slightly angle your arms upwards, as if doing a 30-degree incline press. —

Brett Williams, Men's Health, 7 Dec. 2022 In recent weeks Wilson has sought to angle himself as a crusader for voting rights and access, and his latest call entails pressuring Springfield to allow Chicagoans to vote at any polling site before the Feb. 28 local election ballots go out. —

Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'angle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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"