freewheel

1 of 2

noun

free·​wheel ˈfrē-ˈ(h)wēl 

: 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

2 of 2

verb

freewheeled; freewheeling; freewheels

intransitive verb

1

: to roll along freely independent of a gear

2

: to move, live, or play freely or irresponsibly

freewheeler noun

Examples of freewheel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Never committing to any one character’s point of view, Balagov and Stepnova’s script freewheels in meandering but mostly disarming fashion between these strands, with an errant storytelling rhythm aptly reflective of lives that are at once static and in perpetually unproductive motion. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 May 2026

Fortunately, freewheels are still being made by most major manufacturers, so replacing the one that's on there shouldn't be a problem. —New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025

Verb

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman faced off Tuesday in a freewheeling 90-minute slugfest, digging at each other over homelessness, police hiring and other major issues. —Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026

Keeping the overall structure secure does not lend itself to freewheeling attacking, instead playing on the tight margins. —Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for freewheel

• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal
• congeal
• coquille
• corneal
• cornmeal
• flywheel
• genteel