birl

verb

ˈbər(-ə)l How to pronounce birl (audio)
Definition of birlnext
chiefly Scottish
as in to drink
to take part in drunken revelry spent a good part of his time in Edinburgh birling into the wee small hours of the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of birl There was sea salt in the air, and sleepless seagulls were birling in the darkness overhead. — Douglas Stuart, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2020 In some parts of the United States, birling contests are annual events. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 16 Feb. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birl
  1. drink
  2. carouse
  3. revel
  4. binge
  5. roister
  6. wassail
Verb
  • Food and drink Zori’s 32-year-old chef, Siniša Jevrosimov, is an exceptional talent.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • On the palate, first sips are remarkably soft and approachable, and Hyperion drinks a touch below its 110 proof.
    — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of drink
Verb
  • Three sitting rooms are complemented by a further three members’ social spaces for carousing in, concealed behind a subtle screen (here, DJs including Goldierocks make appearances, and mobile snaps are banned; staff politely place a sticker over mobile camera lenses).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
  • Bethany takes the explosive event as a sign to reunite with her old girlfriend Nel (Lena Góra), and carouse across lofts, clubs, and back alleys, leaving her erstwhile partner stranded.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of carouse
Verb
  • Right in the middle of cheering, reveling masses was MARTA — a connective system of veins that efficiently moved the happy throngs.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Mary Murphy, a young reporter from Queens, had been at Shea that night, reveling with her sisters in the upper loge section along the first-base line.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of revel
Verb
  • Too Much Waiting, Not Enough Episodes The years between seasons are killing them, especially when a season only takes a week to binge, unlike the old days when a season lasted three to nine months of weekly episode releases.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Summer may be petering out, but for those who haven’t binged Sterling Point, don’t pack up your swimsuit just yet.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of binge
Verb
  • One of his sons, Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman), though hardly old enough to be in long pants, wears shining armor, while the other son, Hal (Timothée Chalamet), is a slouch who wastes his life in roistering.
    — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2019
Definition of roister
Verb
  • Some speculate that wassailing predates Christianity in the region; others note its association with the Christian holiday of Twelfth Night.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 24 Dec. 2025
  • Image Image In the village of Midsomer Norton, about 50 miles away, 100 people or so turned out for a community event to wassail three small apple trees in the local park.
    — Stephen Castle, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
Definition of wassail

Browse Nearby Words

birettas
birl
birled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Birl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birl. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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