eel

1 of 2

noun

ˈēl 

1

a

: any of numerous voracious elongate snakelike bony fishes (order Anguilliformes) that have a smooth slimy skin, lack pelvic fins, and have the median fins confluent around the tail compare american eel

b

: any of numerous other elongate fishes (as of the order Synbranchiformes)

2

: any of various nematodes (such as the vinegar eel)

eellike

ˈēl-ˌlīk 

adjective

eely

ˈē-lē 

adjective

Illustration of eel

• eel 1a

eel

2 of 2

verb

eeled; eeling; eels

transitive + intransitive

1

a

: to fish for eels see also eeling

b

: to fish with eels as bait

2

: to move or make (one's way) sinuously or insidiously : worm

Stories my Russian friends had told me about the hundreds who were trampled at Stalin's funeral came back to me. Finally, we gave up and eeled our way out of there.

—Ian Frazier

Did you know?

There are more than 500 fish species known as eels. They are slender, elongated, and usually scaleless, with long dorsal and anal fi ns that are continuous around the tail tip. Eels are found in all seas, from coastal regions to the mid-depths. Freshwater eels are active, predatory fish with small embedded scales. They grow to maturity in freshwater and return to the sea, where they spawn and die. The transparent young drift to the coast and make their way upstream. Freshwater eels, considered valuable food fish, include species ranging from 4 in (10 cm) to about 111⁄2 ft (3.5 m) long.

Examples of eel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Aside from the canals and bridges, the town is known for its culinary specialities, in particular eels. —Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2025

Overall, the eel is dark brownish gray with some white spots on its head, researchers said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025

Verb

See also: eel ‘The Theory of the Leisure Class’ by Thorstein Veblen Thorstein Veblen’s 1899 magnum opus, The Theory of the Leisure Class, could be considered a forerunner of the behavioral economics so popular now. —The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024

With his brother-in-law as president, Mr. Saint-Rémy wielded enormous influence, often demanding that choice licenses and contracts be awarded to him, particularly eel export licenses, according to officials in Mr. Martelly’s government. —New York Times, 12 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ele, from Old English ǣl; akin to Old High German āl eel

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing eel

• American eel
• conger eel
• electric eel
• moray eel
• vinegar eel

Rhymes for eel

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• feel
• feil
• heal
• heel
• keel
• kneel

Kids Definition

eel

noun

ˈē(ə)l 

plural eels or eel

: any of numerous long snakelike fishes that have a smooth slimy skin and the fins in the middle of the back and bottom continuous around the tail

eellike

ˈē(ə)l-ˌlīk 

adjective