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

Nick Ramsden, a farmer from Pretoria, South Africa, spent a long Thursday in July driving an eighteen-wheeler along a three-mile loop at the Nelson-King Farms, in rural Mississippi. —Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026

At least five vehicles, including the 18-wheeler, appear to be involved. —Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

The 18-wheeler has, once again, gone over the cliff. —James Mirtle, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026

This year, two 18-wheelers will arrive loaded with perennials, trees and shrubs to sell to visitors from all over D-FW. —Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 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)