noun

beeline

BEE-lyn

Beeline (noun) means a straight, direct route taken quickly to reach something. Example: “As soon as the doors opened, kids made a beeline for the toy aisle.”

noun

A straight, direct route taken quickly to reach something.

"As soon as the doors opened, kids made a beeline for the toy aisle."

verb

To go straight and quickly toward something.

"He beelined for the exit the moment the meeting ended."

How to use beeline

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA direct, no-detours path to somewhere, usually taken quickly and with purpose.

Common pairings

make a beeline for straight beeline

Word forms

beelined past tense, beelines plural, beelines singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “beeline” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

As soon as the doors opened, kids made a _____ for the toy aisle.

Etymology

From "bee" plus "line," based on the old belief that bees fly straight back to their hive.

Rhymes for beeline

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine thine shine

See all rhymes for beeline →

Frequently asked questions

What does “beeline” mean?

The word “beeline” means a straight, direct route taken quickly to reach something. In plain terms, a direct, no-detours path to somewhere, usually taken quickly and with purpose.

How do you pronounce “beeline”?

“Beeline” is pronounced BEE-lyn (/ˈbiːlaɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “beeline” in a sentence?

Here is “beeline” used in a sentence: “As soon as the doors opened, kids made a beeline for the toy aisle.”

What part of speech is “beeline”?

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

How many meanings does “beeline” have?

“Beeline” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a straight, direct route taken quickly to reach something.