pile

16 synonyms and 5 antonyms for pile, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A number of things heaped or stacked on top of each other.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

mass load pack

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

heap stack mound batch bundle jam mob

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

stockpile cumulation pile up agglomerate cumulus throng

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A number of things heaped or stacked on top of each other.

“A pile of autumn leaves was waiting for the children to jump in.”

heap stack mound mass stockpile load batch cumulation bundle pile up agglomerate cumulus

2. noun

Informally, a large amount, especially of money.

“He earned a pile from the sale of his flat and bought a farm.”

Opposites

modicum smidgen

3. verb

To heap things up, or to move as a group in a disorganised way.

“After the match, the players piled on top of the goalscorer in joy.”

jam pack heap mob stack throng

Opposites

disperse scatter distribute

How to use pile

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a pile of laundry pile up driven piles a pile of money

Etymology

From Old French pile, from Latin pīla, "pillar" or "pier" — the heaped-up and driven-post senses both trace back to this idea of a solid mass.

Full origin of pile →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pile” mean?

The word “pile” means a number of things heaped or stacked on top of each other. In plain terms, a heap of things, a large amount, a support beam driven into the ground, or (as a verb) to stack or crowd something up.

How do you pronounce “pile”?

“Pile” is pronounced pyl (/paɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “pile” in a sentence?

Here is “pile” used in a sentence: “Dirty laundry formed a pile at the foot of the bed.”

What is another word for “pile”?

Words with a similar meaning to “pile” include pile up.

What part of speech is “pile”?

Depending on how it is used, “pile” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “pile” come from?

The word “pile” comes from Latin. From Old French pile, from Latin pīla, "pillar" or "pier" — the heaped-up and driven-post senses both trace back to this idea of a solid mass.

Is “pile” a common word?

“Pile” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “pile” have?

“Pile” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a number of things heaped or stacked on top of each other.

What is the difference between a pile and a heap?

Both refer to a number of things gathered on top of each other. A pile can be neat or messy, while a heap usually suggests a more disorderly, untidy mound of things thrown together.

What is the difference between a pile and a stack?

A pile is simply a number of things heaped together, often without much order. A stack implies items arranged neatly on top of one another, such as a stack of plates, so a stack is more organised than a general pile.

What is the difference between pile and pile up?

A pile is the noun for a number of things heaped or stacked together. To pile up is a phrasal verb meaning to accumulate or grow into a pile, as when bills or work pile up over time.

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mass pack load jam mob stack batch bundle distribute heap mound scatter

Nearby words

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