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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of pile (up)
David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
More than 100 cars were involved in a pileup on I-196 in Zeeland Township on Monday morning in West Michigan.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
An unusually large pileup of Second Amendment challenges has landed at the Supreme Court, which will consider taking up the cases behind closed doors Friday.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Colorado legislators updated the traction law in an effort to reduce crashes, spin-outs, pileups and lengthy traffic delays during the winter months when snow falls along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor from just west of Denver through Dotsero.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pile (up)
Noun
The sheriff's office says the pileup involved about 100 vehicles, including dozens of semi-trucks.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
More than 100 cars were involved in a pileup on I-196 in Zeeland Township on Monday morning in West Michigan.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026
An unusually large pileup of Second Amendment challenges has landed at the Supreme Court, which will consider taking up the cases behind closed doors Friday.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Colorado legislators updated the traction law in an effort to reduce crashes, spin-outs, pileups and lengthy traffic delays during the winter months when snow falls along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor from just west of Denver through Dotsero.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pile (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pile (up)
Verb
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Central bank buying remains a cornerstone, with emerging market institutions, particularly in the East, continuing to accumulate reserves.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Across some of the most productive farmland in the United States, a nutrient called phosphorus has been accumulating in the soil for decades, at levels far beyond what crops actually require.—
Dinesh Phuyal,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There is a dry patch over central parts of North Carolina, which may lower the accumulation in Raleigh, but eastern parts of the state are still expected to see at least 6 to 12 inches of snow by Sunday morning.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
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This snow will produce little, if any, accumulation.—
Bill Kelly,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Last week, Moncler Grenoble unveiled its Fall 2026 collection in Aspen, Colorado, marking the first American ski destination show for the Italian brand.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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In December, the EPA approved a $315 million loan for the city of Fort Worth to upgrade wastewater collection and treatment under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And as traders bought more, the gains gathered steam, resulting in skyrocketing prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Several dozen demonstrators also gathered at Temple and Alameda streets near the federal building, and a broadcast report said police issued a dispersal order there.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The pressure cooker extracts maximum richness from a pack of chicken wings or a pile of leftover bones in under an hour, producing a versatile homemade chicken stock that works everywhere from chicken noodle soup to risotto and braises.—
Carla Lalli Music,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Feb. 2026
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Welch said the contractor may make notes about a property, such as suggesting that residents clear debris and place piles of wood off the ground to make outdoor areas less attractive to rats.—
Jessi Virtusio,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Working in small batches, toss the chicken strips in the flour, shake off any excess, dip them in the egg mixture, allow extra egg to drip back into the bowl, and roll them in the panko.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
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Alesia forgets to add sugar to the mixture.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Your brain on dance In humans, that mix between sensory gathering, pattern recognition, prediction and motion involves regions all across the brain.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
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Often favoring intimate, nervy tracking shots, Janis Mazuch’s cinematography is fluid and unassuming — save for in one showpiece shot, circling a raucous musical gathering in Pristina’s central town square.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pile (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pile%20%28up%29. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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