pile (up) 1 of 2

Definition of pile (up)next
as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass snow piling up in the driveway at a rapid pace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pileup

2 of 2

noun

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 (up)
Noun
In June 2024, undocumented Indian national Partap Singh was arrested for causing a multi-car pileup while driving a commercial 18-wheeler. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 25 Feb. 2026 The pileup on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo, Colorado, involved over 30 vehicles and occurred after winds gusted up to 61 mph. Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026 Another man injured in the massive Tuesday pileup on Interstate 25 in southern Colorado died overnight, bringing the number of people killed to five, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026 Seven vehicles were involved in two pileups that occurred in a five-minute period Monday on the Golden Gate Bridge, the California Highway Patrol reported. Cameron MacDonald, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pile (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pile (up)
Verb
  • When Allan’s face and body were bloated as if all the years of music (playing and knowledge) had accumulated in his skin, tissue, and organs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The official said the Yolo County District Attorney’s criminal investigation into Esparto, now in its eighth month is scrutinizing how Chee accumulated his wealth.
    Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • James sat out to rest his accumulation of minor injuries in his 23rd NBA season, but Doncic picked up any offensive slack from the start.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Plows were able to stay ahead of the accumulation, and the main roads were mostly clear, aided by a hangover of warm temperatures from Thursday.
    Alan Gionet, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But the hot market has some paleontologists concerned that important specimens could disappear into private collections, depriving scientists of important research opportunities.
    R.J. Rico, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The front pocket details are a subtle nod towards Aritzia’s cargo-style silhouettes, giving the pair the fashion-forward edge your denim collection needs.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As additional observations from telescopes around the world were gathered throughout 2025, scientists were able to refine its orbit.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2026
  • In a voice note sent by the second Tehran resident on Wednesday night, the sound of pro-regime demonstrators who had gathered for the first day of official mourning for Khamenei can be heard chanting in the background.
    Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • If not eaten immediately, the lovely creaminess becomes a dense pile of goop with no hope of Cinderella-ing itself back to a luxurious state.
    Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Someone who can push the pile and turn a 3-yard loss into a 2-yard gain.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The result also spotlights conference championships’ awkward fit in the current system, particularly given the fact that conference expansion has led to jumbles atop each league’s standings.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 7 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Mixing powdered sugar with baking soda will entice ants to consume the mixture.
    Rabekah Henderson, The Spruce, 3 Mar. 2026
  • To overcome this, the researchers added indium to the mixture.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Host Dominican Republic, pressured by the White House, had barred Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from attending the regional gathering.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
  • OpenAI will now supply its technology to the military for use in classified settings, the sorts that may involve wartime decisions and intelligence-gathering—an agreement, many legal experts told me, that could give the government wide-ranging powers.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pile (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pile%20%28up%29. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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!

More from Merriam-Webster