Illustration of eel
- eel 1a
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)
eeled; eeling; eels
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
Ian Frazier
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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
Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2025
The eel, along with other invasive species, are gaining more of a foothold in the southeastern United States, causing concern among resource and wildlife managers, along with state and local agencies tasked with minimizing adverse effects of nonnative plants and animals.
—Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
These eel-like robots could be used for exploring unpredictable worlds – from exploring distant planets to assisting in disaster zones.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Like Bong, Park has a very deadpan way with sarcasm, and the opening sequence is simply dripping with it: paper company safety executive You Man-su (Lee) is celebrating his wife’s birthday by barbecuing rare, delicious eel steaks, a gift from work to mark 25 years of service.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
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Noun
In addition to the eel pit, Tobler cares for dozens of other animals, including tortoises, lizards and an endangered Australian lungfish.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2025
The eel, along with other invasive species, are gaining more of a foothold in the southeastern United States, causing concern among resource and wildlife managers, along with state and local agencies tasked with minimizing adverse effects of nonnative plants and animals.
—Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
These eel-like robots could be used for exploring unpredictable worlds – from exploring distant planets to assisting in disaster zones.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025
Like Bong, Park has a very deadpan way with sarcasm, and the opening sequence is simply dripping with it: paper company safety executive You Man-su (Lee) is celebrating his wife’s birthday by barbecuing rare, delicious eel steaks, a gift from work to mark 25 years of service.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for eel
Cite this Entry
“Eel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eel. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
eel
noun
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
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