Examples of “keel” in a Sentence

noun The main structural beam running along the bottom of a ship's hull, from front to back.

• Builders shaped the long oak keel before attaching the ribs of the boat.
• The keel was laid before the rest of the hull took shape.
• Barnacles had built up along the ship's keel.

noun A fin-like blade fixed under a sailboat to stop it sliding sideways and to help it stay upright.

• The sailor lowered the keel so the boat would not drift sideways.
• Thanks to its heavy keel, the sailboat stayed upright in the strong wind.
• A deep keel makes the yacht harder to capsize.

verb To capsize or roll over, keel side up (usually as "keel over").

• The small canoe began to keel over when everyone stood up at once.
• If the waves hit hard, the little boat could easily keel over.
• The dinghy keeled over in the sudden gust.