wheelie

noun

wheel·​ie ˈ(h)wē-lē How to pronounce wheelie (audio)
: a maneuver in which a wheeled vehicle (such as a bicycle) is momentarily balanced on its rear wheel or wheels

Examples of wheelie in a Sentence

He did a wheelie on his bike.
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.
Sometimes the pack will follow a lead rider into crowds of pedestrians or in other hazardous behavior such as wheelies or racing. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025 In Mill’s case, popping a wheelie on a motorcycle was considered a violation of his probation in Pennsylvania stemming from a drug and gun charge from 2008, a decade earlier. Chloe Melas, NBC news, 15 Sep. 2025 But making a mistake while doing a wheelie could mean an expensive repair bill, or worse, an actual injury. Joe Salas august 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2025 The Jet Blaster Pro offers the ability to carry three people, but for a single rider, the bonus is riding fast and performing tight curves, reverse donuts, and waterborne wheelies. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for wheelie

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheelie was circa 1965

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wheelie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheelie. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!