pileup

noun

pile·​up ˈpī(-ə)l-ˌəp How to pronounce pileup (audio)
1
: a collision involving usually several motor vehicles
2
a
: a jammed tangled mass or pile (as of motor vehicles or people) resulting from collision or accumulation

Examples of pileup in a Sentence

A five-car pileup slowed traffic. a pileup of e-mail messages that needed to be dealt with
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eight people were killed in a fiery, six-vehicle pileup on Interstate 85 in Jackson County, Georgia, the Jackson County Coroner's Office confirmed to ABC News. Mason Leath, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025 The pileup of Matlock plots and subplots got to be a bit much last season, especially given that nearly every episode also included a new legal case for Olympia’s team to handle — in less than 44 minutes of screen time, usually. Noel Murray, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025 From that launching point, the film becomes a veritable highway pileup of signifiers that seem meant to make sure the viewer understands this is a story about power. Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 10 Oct. 2025 The Louisiana State Police published new video from the deadly pileup involving LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy, defending its investigation after Lacy's lawyer claimed to have new evidence allegedly exonerating the late college football star. Christian Orozco, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pileup

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pileup was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pileup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pileup. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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