pile
7 synonyms and 0 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.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use pile
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
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.