freewheel

noun

free·wheel | \ ˈfrē-ˈ(h)wēl

How to pronounce freewheel (audio)

\

Definition of freewheel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a clutch fitted in the rear hub of a bicycle that permits the rear wheel to run on free from the rear sprocket when the pedals are stopped

freewheel

verb

freewheeled; freewheeling; freewheels

Definition of freewheel (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to roll along freely independent of a gear

2 : to move, live, or play freely or irresponsibly

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Examples of freewheel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun On the other side, the spokes meet the axle slightly off-center, while the gears (and the freewheel that allows them to rotate freely in only one direction) take up the space between there and the frame. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "How bicycles have changed in the last 25 years," 10 Nov. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The man and the rest of his freewheeling pets got closer and continued to yell. — Beth Spotswood, SFChronicle.com, "Pandemic’s ‘new normal’ makes us weary, but we’re in it together," 27 May 2020 The frontman, erstwhile essayist, and freewheeling Instagrammer talked to EW via phone about his worst fears, his hopes for the future, and his chili recipe (Cincinnati style, or go home). — Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, "Dave Grohl on Foo Fighters anniversary plans, his worst fears, and listening to Fiona Apple," 13 May 2020 The exchange was an exaggeration of the real-life video captured at the reception at Buckingham Palace last week, which appeared to show Trudeau, Macron, Johnson and others laughing about Trump’s freewheeling news conferences earlier in the day. — Derek Hawkins, Washington Post, "In SNL cold open, world leaders gossip about Trump like schoolchildren in the NATO cafeteria," 8 Dec. 2019 Is Nora From Queens, where the Asian American family doesn't have to mean strife and compromise, but unconditional encouragement and freewheeling fun. — Inkoo Kang, The Hollywood Reporter, "Critic's Notebook: 'Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens' and the Freshness of Angst-Free Asian Americans," 26 Feb. 2020 But the movie, for all its retrograde politics and wham-bam machismo, can also be slick, silly fun — a giddy exercise in freewheeling nihilism, played to the hilt. — Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, "Guy Ritchie gets his gangster ya-yas out again in The Gentlemen: Review," 23 Jan. 2020 The discussion was freewheeling as the families lamented the justice delayed not just for them but also for all the families and friends of victims. — Jerry Dunleavy, Washington Examiner, "'The public has forgotten': 9/11 family members lament justice delayed at Guantanamo Bay," 1 Feb. 2020 But Trump’s freewheeling approach to governance made those processes somewhat obsolete. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "John Bolton Has Run the Trump White House’s Greatest Scam," 28 Jan. 2020 But structurally, The Glorias blurs the line between freewheeling collage and mess, its directorial flourishes sometimes smacking of self-indulgence. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Glorias': Film Review | Sundance 2020," 27 Jan. 2020

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

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“Freewheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freewheel. Accessed 26 Feb. 2021.

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