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
1
A straight, direct route taken quickly to reach something.
"As soon as the doors opened, kids made a beeline for the toy aisle."
verb
1
To go straight and quickly toward something.
"He beelined for the exit the moment the meeting ended."
How to use beeline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA direct, no-detours path to somewhere, usually taken quickly and with purpose.
Common pairings
make a beeline for
straight beeline
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Word forms
- Plural
- beelines
- Third person singular
- beelines
- Past tense
- beelined
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
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.
