pile (up) 1 of 2

verb

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pileup

2 of 2

noun

ˈpī(-ə)l-ˌəp How to pronounce pileup (audio)
as in accumulation
a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time a pileup of e-mail messages that needed to be dealt with

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The price hike for any individual item would likely be modest, but the pileup of extra costs across an array of goods could weigh on wallets, analysts previously told ABC News. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 The moves come as 311 has received nearly 3,000 complaints related to dog waste citywide so far this year, including a significant spike after the lengthy, lingering snow pileups this winter. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 The prank consisted of 50 individuals simultaneously ordering a Waymo on the same dead-end street, creating a pileup that made the company disable rides until the next morning. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 The California rapper-producer’s new album sifts through an eclectic pileup of influences with X-ray vision, exposing his artistic process and still keeping it breezy. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pile (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pile (up)
  1. accumulate
  2. accumulation
  3. gather
  4. collection
  5. pile
  6. jumble
  7. mixture
  8. gathering
Verb
  • However, George adds that a basic categorization framework is still essential to prevent clutter from accumulating.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Dirt, algae and other contaminants can also accumulate along walls and around the waterline, making comprehensive cleaning an important consideration.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of accumulate
Noun
  • The accumulation of unemployment, underemployment, and low wages for Chinese households and workers are already significant, yet Beijing has responded with only modest new household subsidies and incremental investment in social services.
    — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In 2022, for example, a team of researchers in Paris reported that sustained mental effort led to the accumulation of glutamate in the lateral prefrontal cortex, a brain region responsible for cognitive control.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of accumulation
Verb
  • Since then, Huang’s profile has risen to the status of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, with thousands of people gathering to hear his keynotes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • This allows manufacturers to use the machine for productive work while its AI system gathers operational data.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of gather
Noun
  • Marshall’s campaign, in turn, faced an onslaught of controversies that his critics amplified in the race’s final weeks, including his medical debt collection practices and the blurred lines between his office and campaign staff.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The policy prohibits the use of surveillance technology, discriminatory practices and unauthorized data collection.
    — James Leigh, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of collection
Noun
  • How to Dispose of Dead Annuals After removing dead annuals from the garden, Gifford says healthy annuals can go in your compost pile.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Early Black Friday sales are delivering discounts on the bed frames of your dreams, from plush upholstered designs to sleek platform beds and clever storage solutions that might finally give that extra pile of bedding in your closet a proper home.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of pile
Noun
  • Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of jumble
Noun
  • The rock contains a distinctive mixture of igneous minerals, formed when molten material cooled and solidified.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • End with the house herbal tea, a beautiful floral mixture of cardamom pods, mint, rosewater, and orange blossom.
    — Luke Pyenson, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of mixture
Noun
  • Currently, these special taxes put on by voter signature gathering do not need to meet that threshold.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Imagined as a wholesome gathering at Longleat House in Wiltshire, England, the campaign, part of the brand’s yearlong 170th anniversary celebrations, features legendary actors Pierce Brosnan and Fiona Shaw hosting guests at the historic residence.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of gathering

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piles (up)
pile (up)
pileup
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Cite this Entry

“Pile (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pile%20%28up%29. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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