pile 1 of 3

noun (1)

Definition of pilenext
1
as in stack
a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another a large pile of newspapers that needed to be disposed of

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in loads
a considerable amount a job that paid piles of money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bundle
a very large amount of money she made a pile in the stock market just before it headed south

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pile

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering the lush pile of the carpeting

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2
as in wool
the hairy covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick a dog with such a dense pile that he never minded the cold

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pile

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to stack
to lay or throw on top of one another piled all the clothes on the chair before putting them away

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to huddle
to gather into a closely packed group the kids piled into the car

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pile
Noun
The clip opens on Swims standing in front of a pile of rubble. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2026 Inside the largest house the boys had ever been in was an enormous Christmas tree with a pile of presents underneath it, all for them. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Verb
Throughout Paramount’s quest for Warner, questions of political influence have also piled up — with criticism falling largely along party lines in Washington. — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 14 July 2026 Our new neighbors have been out of town for several weeks, and their newspapers keep piling up outside their home. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pile
  1. stack
  2. loads
  3. bundle
  4. fur
  5. wool
  6. huddle
  7. mound
  8. ton
Noun
  • Here is what the trend looks like, who is driving it and what to know before building your own stack.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • Walden says its full-stack approach combines hardware, AI, and deployment software to create robots that become more capable over time, targeting industries including automotive, aerospace, semiconductors, electronics, logistics, and life sciences.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
Definition of stack
Noun
  • Engineering experts said the conversion project is complex and poses many challenges, which include making sure older buildings can safely support new loads and carving up office floors to accommodate residential living.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • More crucially, Illinois’ grid is well-equipped to deliver the large electrical loads needed to process AI and other data.
    — Scott Cohn, CNBC, 9 July 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • Airbnb proved to be a popular alternative to traditional hotels, with offers like the World Cup bundle, which included free World Cup tickets with select Airbnb stays at an average price of $365 per night.
    — Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • During his conversation with PEOPLE, Luke shares his excitement for adding to the Wilson family with his new bundle of joy.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
Definition of bundle
Noun
  • Gendron said his ancestors were among the first outsiders to settle the island in the 1700s, when three brothers, fur traders all, left Canada and followed the Mississippi south.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Cat fur comes in a wide array of shades, lengths and designs.
    — Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of fur
Noun
  • Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026
  • The record also states that the boys were wearing heavy wool coats and silk stockings in the middle of summer in Philly.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of wool
Verb
  • Locals have spotted groups of people in Korea jerseys huddled together, trying to decide what to order at In-N-Out.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • The two men later huddled, in an encounter that hasn’t previously been reported.
    — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Definition of huddle
Noun
  • Standing alone on the mound taught him how to manage failure, control his emotions and move on to the next pitch.
    — Latif Love July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • Though this is the first time Ohtani has skipped a pitching start, the Dodgers did push back his last start on the mound by two days.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of mound
Noun
  • According to the press statement, the project is anchored by over 400,000 structural steel piles manufactured by PACO Steel, using 142,000 tons of steel coils from US Steel’s nearby Big River facility.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • That earlier picture made a ton of money, and The Odyssey clearly has even broader appeal as an epic poem that many, many people encountered as required reading.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 July 2026
Definition of ton

Phrases Containing pile

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pilasters
pile
piled
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Cite this Entry

“Pile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pile. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pile

Nglish: Translation of pile for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pile

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