wheeler

noun

wheel·​er ˈ(h)wē-lər 

1

: one that wheels

2

: a draft animal (such as a horse) pulling in the position nearest the front wheels of a wagon

3

: something (such as a vehicle or ship) that has wheels

—used especially in combination

a side-wheeler

18-wheelers

Examples of wheeler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The suspect then struck an 18-wheeler, causing the suspect to lose control of their vehicle. — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Between those races, Kennedy explained, about 250 different 18-wheeler trucks will haul equipment back to teams’ headquarters in North Carolina, reload, then to drive up to the Virginia capital. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026

This 18-wheeler ended up dangling off a concrete barrier on the side of a highway after a crash in Houston. — Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 27 July 2026

The motorcycle crashed with the side of the 18-wheeler and both the Mendez and a female passenger were thrown from the bike, according to police. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wheeler

• eighteen-wheeler
• four-wheeler
• paddle wheeler
• stern-wheeler
• three-wheeler
• two-wheeler
• wheeler and dealer
• wheeler-dealer

Rhymes for wheeler

• dealer
• feeler
• healer
• keeler
• peeler
• sealer
• stealer
• repealer
• revealer

Kids Definition

wheeler

noun

wheel·​er ˈhwē-lər 

ˈwē-

: one of a team of horses that pulls from the position nearest the front wheels of a wagon

Biographical Definition

Wheeler 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

Whee·​ler ˈ(h)wē-lər 

Joseph 1836–1906 American general

Wheeler

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

William Almon 1819–1887 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1877–81)