1
a
: the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
b
: the part of the hind limb of other vertebrates that is similar in structure to the human heel
nipping at the cow's heels
2
: an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel
especially
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands —
Warren Eyster
Warren Eyster 3
: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
4
a
: the part (as of a shoe) that covers the human heel
b
: a solid attachment of a shoe or boot forming the back of the sole under the heel of the foot
squashed the bug with his boot heel
5
: a rear, low, or bottom part: such as
b
: the base of a tuber or cutting of a plant used for propagation of the plant
c
: the base of a ladder
6
a
: a contemptible person : a person who is self-centered or untrustworthy
felt like a heel
a few heels who appear to get away with it—Frank Case
Frank Case
b
professional wrestling
: a wrestler who performs the role of the unsympathetic antagonist or adversary in a staged wrestling match
In the traditional morality plays of professional wrestling, grapplers divided into good guys, or "baby faces," and black-hatted "heels."—John Leland
compare baby face sense 2
John Leland
heeled; heeling; heels
1
a
: to furnish (a boot, a shoe, etc.) with a solid attachment forming the part of the sole that is under the back of the foot : to attach a heel (see heel entry 1 sense 4b) to
b
: to supply especially with money or information
better heeled but still not flush
I want to be heeled when they book him—R. P. Warren
R. P. Warren2
a
: to exert pressure on, propel, or strike (someone or something) with the back part of the foot
heeled her horse
b
: to urge (a lagging animal) by following closely or by nipping at the heels
dogs heeling cattle
: to move along near the back of someone's feet : to stay at someone's heels
taught the dog to heel
heeled; heeling; heels
: to lean to one side : tip
especially, of a boat or ship
: to lean temporarily (as from the action of wind or waves)
kept heeling to the left
compare list entry 3
: to cause (a boat) to lean to one side
heeling the sloop well over and skimming her along to windward—K. M. Dodson
K. M. Dodson
: a tilt (as of a boat) to one side
also
: the extent of such a tilt
a heel of six degrees to starboard
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bastard
- beast
- bleeder [British]
- blighter [chiefly British]
- boor
- bounder
- bugger
- buzzard
- cad
- chuff
- churl
- clown
- creep
- cretin
- crud [slang]
- crumb [slang]
- cur
- dirtbag [slang]
- dog
- fink
- hound
- jerk
- joker
- louse
- lout
- pill
- rat
- rat fink
- reptile
- rotter
- schmuck [slang]
- scum
- scumbag [slang]
- scuzzball [slang]
- skunk
- sleaze
- sleazebag [slang]
- sleazeball [slang]
- slime
- slimeball [slang]
- slob
- snake
- so-and-so
- sod [chiefly British]
- stinkard
- stinker
- swine
- toad
- varmint
- vermin
Verb (2)
Examples of heel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebJohn Penner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
An Omega watch and black suede heeled Christian Louboutin Chelsea boots completed his look.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The Grammy nominee also matched her bright red lipstick to a pair of cherry red crocodile print platform heels for her big night at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2024
After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2023
They’re unfortunately heeled by the resourcefulness of their latest victim, a Twin Peaks-era Madchen Amick (who’s assisted by a police officer’s tenacious cat, Clovis).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024
If her wrist heels quickly, Sorvino should be able to continue pursuing her DWTS happily-ever-after.
—EW.com, 17 Oct. 2023
Brex heeled Chelsea boots that add a fresh pop of color to any outfit but are still sturdy enough to trudge through the snow.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2023
After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin tried to bring his intelligence forces to heel by sending several middle-rank officers to jail on corruption charges.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2023
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024
Time and Tru Comfort Wedge For those who tend to avoid the discomfort of heels at all costs, opt for a low wedge heel, like that found in this Time and Tru option, instead.
—Lauren Fischer, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
This year's birthday prank comes on the heels of Wrexham AFC scoring a 6-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers, marking their official promotion to League One, the second-highest division of the English Football League.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2024
This time around, it’s also set to trigger multibillion-dollar declines in revenue for the very companies that ensure the digital currency’s smooth functioning, right on the heels of a surge in their biggest costs.
—David Pan, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
This comes after Love recently returned from a bruised right heel that forced him to miss 14 straight games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
The decision comes on the heels of a separate announcement of the Administration’s broader student loan forgiveness program that would replace the plan the Supreme Court struck down last June.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
There are ample recent examples of member states digging their heels in on one issue – funding for Ukraine or Covid relief packages – in exchange for turning a blind eye to their breaking of EU rules.
—Luke McGee, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The silky material can make this look dressed up for nice dinners out with the right top and heels, but it can also be dressed down with casual sandals and accessories.
—Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Columbus used his foreknowledge of a lunar eclipse to force the Arawak residents of present-day Jamaica to heel in fear.
—John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
An Omega watch and black suede heeled Christian Louboutin Chelsea boots completed his look.
—Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
The Grammy nominee also matched her bright red lipstick to a pair of cherry red crocodile print platform heels for her big night at Los Angeles's Crypto.com Arena.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 5 Feb. 2024
After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2023
They’re unfortunately heeled by the resourcefulness of their latest victim, a Twin Peaks-era Madchen Amick (who’s assisted by a police officer’s tenacious cat, Clovis).
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024
If her wrist heels quickly, Sorvino should be able to continue pursuing her DWTS happily-ever-after.
—EW.com, 17 Oct. 2023
Brex heeled Chelsea boots that add a fresh pop of color to any outfit but are still sturdy enough to trudge through the snow.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2023
After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin tried to bring his intelligence forces to heel by sending several middle-rank officers to jail on corruption charges.
—Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2023
Noun
The criminal probe comes on the heels of a separate investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which is looking into what caused the crash and other safety issues.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024
Time and Tru Comfort Wedge For those who tend to avoid the discomfort of heels at all costs, opt for a low wedge heel, like that found in this Time and Tru option, instead.
—Lauren Fischer, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
This year's birthday prank comes on the heels of Wrexham AFC scoring a 6-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers, marking their official promotion to League One, the second-highest division of the English Football League.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2024
This time around, it’s also set to trigger multibillion-dollar declines in revenue for the very companies that ensure the digital currency’s smooth functioning, right on the heels of a surge in their biggest costs.
—David Pan, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
This comes after Love recently returned from a bruised right heel that forced him to miss 14 straight games.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024
The decision comes on the heels of a separate announcement of the Administration’s broader student loan forgiveness program that would replace the plan the Supreme Court struck down last June.
—Solcyré Burga, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
There are ample recent examples of member states digging their heels in on one issue – funding for Ukraine or Covid relief packages – in exchange for turning a blind eye to their breaking of EU rules.
—Luke McGee, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The silky material can make this look dressed up for nice dinners out with the right top and heels, but it can also be dressed down with casual sandals and accessories.
—Kayla Becker, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near heel
Cite this Entry
“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heel. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heel
1 of 4 noun1
a
: the back part of the human foot behind the arch and below the ankle
also
: the corresponding part of a lower vertebrate
b
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
2
: a part (as of a shoe) that covers or supports the human heel
3
: a lower, back, or end part
especially
: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
4
: a despicable person
heel
2 of 4 verb
: to provide with a heel
heeler
noun
ˈhē-lər
heel
3 of 4 verb
: to tilt to one side : tip
heel
4 of 4 noun
: a tilt to one side
Etymology
Noun
Old English hēla "back part of the foot"
Verb
Old English hieldan "to lean to one side"
Medical Definition
heel
noun1
a
: the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
b
: the back of the hind limb of other vertebrates homologous with the human heel
2
: an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel: as
a
: the hind part of a hoof
b
: either of the projections of a coffin bone
c
: the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
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