1
a
: the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
b
: the part of the hind limb of other vertebrates that is similar in structure to the human heel
nipping at the cow's heels
2
: an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel
especially
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands —
Warren Eyster
Warren Eyster 3
: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
4
a
: the part (as of a shoe) that covers the human heel
b
: a solid attachment of a shoe or boot forming the back of the sole under the heel of the foot
squashed the bug with his boot heel
5
: a rear, low, or bottom part: such as
b
: the base of a tuber or cutting of a plant used for propagation of the plant
c
: the base of a ladder
6
a
: a contemptible person : a person who is self-centered or untrustworthy
felt like a heel
a few heels who appear to get away with it—Frank Case
Frank Case
b
professional wrestling
: a wrestler who performs the role of the unsympathetic antagonist or adversary in a staged wrestling match
In the traditional morality plays of professional wrestling, grapplers divided into good guys, or "baby faces," and black-hatted "heels."—John Leland
compare baby face sense 2
John Leland
heeled; heeling; heels
1
a
: to furnish (a boot, a shoe, etc.) with a solid attachment forming the part of the sole that is under the back of the foot : to attach a heel (see heel entry 1 sense 4b) to
b
: to supply especially with money or information
better heeled but still not flush
I want to be heeled when they book him—R. P. Warren
R. P. Warren2
a
: to exert pressure on, propel, or strike (someone or something) with the back part of the foot
heeled her horse
b
: to urge (a lagging animal) by following closely or by nipping at the heels
dogs heeling cattle
: to move along near the back of someone's feet : to stay at someone's heels
taught the dog to heel
heeled; heeling; heels
: to lean to one side : tip
especially, of a boat or ship
: to lean temporarily (as from the action of wind or waves)
kept heeling to the left
compare list entry 3
: to cause (a boat) to lean to one side
heeling the sloop well over and skimming her along to windward—K. M. Dodson
K. M. Dodson
: a tilt (as of a boat) to one side
also
: the extent of such a tilt
a heel of six degrees to starboard
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bastard
- beast
- bleeder [British]
- blighter [chiefly British]
- boor
- bounder
- bugger
- buzzard
- cad
- chuff
- churl
- clown
- creep
- cretin
- crud [slang]
- crumb [slang]
- cur
- dirtbag [slang]
- dog
- fink
- hound
- jerk
- joker
- louse
- lout
- pill
- rat
- rat fink
- reptile
- rotter
- schmuck [slang]
- scum
- scumbag [slang]
- scuzzball [slang]
- skunk
- sleaze
- sleazebag [slang]
- sleazeball [slang]
- slime
- slimeball [slang]
- slob
- snake
- so-and-so
- sod [chiefly British]
- stinkard
- stinker
- swine
- toad
- varmint
- vermin
Verb (2)
Examples of heel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebJackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The Grammy nominee also matched her bright red lipstick to a pair of cherry red crocodile print platform heels for her big night at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2024
After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2023
They’re unfortunately heeled by the resourcefulness of their latest victim, a Twin Peaks-era Madchen Amick (who’s assisted by a police officer’s tenacious cat, Clovis).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024
If her wrist heels quickly, Sorvino should be able to continue pursuing her DWTS happily-ever-after.
—EW.com, 17 Oct. 2023
Brex heeled Chelsea boots that add a fresh pop of color to any outfit but are still sturdy enough to trudge through the snow.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2023
After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin tried to bring his intelligence forces to heel by sending several middle-rank officers to jail on corruption charges.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2023
Ron DeSantis, the wooden and sober ideologue, dodging specific questions to convey his general vision of a culture brought totally to heel, literacy corralled, genders controlled.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2023
Lachlan Cartwright, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The auction house will hold next month its second Geneva Jewels Auction, on the heels of its first such offering in November.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Shares rose slightly in after-hours trading on the heels of the Times report.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit comes on the heels of Disney facing growing legal woes over allegations of pay discrimination against women described in a class action filed in 2019.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
For accessories, Jenner opted for a pair of shades, pointy-toe black heels and gold hoop earrings.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The initiative comes on the heels of OMBW’s new national survey that details the disparities Black women face when striving for financial solvency.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
The cancer diagnosis of the future Queen comes on the heels of King Charles III’s own health battle, which was revealed in early February – less than a year after his coronation.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
On the heels of a soaking start to 2024, state water managers on Friday announced a considerable increase in their forecasted water allocation for the year.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024
Verb
An Omega watch and black suede heeled Christian Louboutin Chelsea boots completed his look.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The Grammy nominee also matched her bright red lipstick to a pair of cherry red crocodile print platform heels for her big night at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2024
After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2023
They’re unfortunately heeled by the resourcefulness of their latest victim, a Twin Peaks-era Madchen Amick (who’s assisted by a police officer’s tenacious cat, Clovis).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024
If her wrist heels quickly, Sorvino should be able to continue pursuing her DWTS happily-ever-after.
—EW.com, 17 Oct. 2023
Brex heeled Chelsea boots that add a fresh pop of color to any outfit but are still sturdy enough to trudge through the snow.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2023
After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin tried to bring his intelligence forces to heel by sending several middle-rank officers to jail on corruption charges.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2023
Ron DeSantis, the wooden and sober ideologue, dodging specific questions to convey his general vision of a culture brought totally to heel, literacy corralled, genders controlled.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2023
Noun
This all came on the heels of a family tragedy that made my job seem even more detestable and stupid.
—Lachlan Cartwright, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
The auction house will hold next month its second Geneva Jewels Auction, on the heels of its first such offering in November.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Shares rose slightly in after-hours trading on the heels of the Times report.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit comes on the heels of Disney facing growing legal woes over allegations of pay discrimination against women described in a class action filed in 2019.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
For accessories, Jenner opted for a pair of shades, pointy-toe black heels and gold hoop earrings.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
The initiative comes on the heels of OMBW’s new national survey that details the disparities Black women face when striving for financial solvency.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
The cancer diagnosis of the future Queen comes on the heels of King Charles III’s own health battle, which was revealed in early February – less than a year after his coronation.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
On the heels of a soaking start to 2024, state water managers on Friday announced a considerable increase in their forecasted water allocation for the year.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near heel
Cite this Entry
“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heel. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heel
1 of 4 noun1
a
: the back part of the human foot behind the arch and below the ankle
also
: the corresponding part of a lower vertebrate
b
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
2
: a part (as of a shoe) that covers or supports the human heel
3
: a lower, back, or end part
especially
: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
4
: a despicable person
heel
2 of 4 verb
: to provide with a heel
heeler
noun
ˈhē-lər
heel
3 of 4 verb
: to tilt to one side : tip
heel
4 of 4 noun
: a tilt to one side
Etymology
Noun
Old English hēla "back part of the foot"
Verb
Old English hieldan "to lean to one side"
Medical Definition
heel
noun1
a
: the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
b
: the back of the hind limb of other vertebrates homologous with the human heel
2
: an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel: as
a
: the hind part of a hoof
b
: either of the projections of a coffin bone
c
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
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