Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

rail

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of rail

1 a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports
  • the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail
Synonyms of rail

balustrade, banister (also bannister), guardrail, railing
Words Related to rail

handrail

taffrail

fender
2 a roadway overlaid with parallel steel rails over which trains travel
  • an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush
Synonyms of rail

railroad, railway, road
Words Related to rail

el, elevated, elevated railroad

monorail

Learn More about rail

  1. See words that rhyme with rail Dictionary: Definition of rail Spanish Central: Translation of rail Nglish: Translation of rail for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rail for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rail

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up rail? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

hoopla

excited commotion or publicity

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. crosshair Roger Stone posts controversial photo

  2. feckless Former RNC chair derides Trump

  3. emergency, national emergency Trump declares crisis over wall

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games