heel
heel
Heel (noun) means the rounded back part of the foot, or the corresponding part of a shoe or sock. Example: “Her new boots rubbed a blister on her heel.”
noun
1
The rounded back part of the foot, or the corresponding part of a shoe or sock.
"Her new boots rubbed a blister on her heel."
"The heel of this shoe is worn down unevenly."
"He felt a sharp pain in his heel after the long walk."
2
A contemptible, dishonest, or unscrupulous person.
"He turned out to be a real heel, dumping her by text."
"Only a heel would take credit for his friend's work."
"She realised he was a heel when he lied about where he had been."
3
In professional wrestling, a performer playing the villain role.
"The crowd booed loudly as the heel entered the ring."
"The wrestler played the heel, sneering at the fans and hiding the trophy."
"Fans love to hate the heel in every wrestling show."
verb
1
For a boat or ship to tilt or lean over to one side.
"The sailboat heeled sharply in the strong wind."
"The yacht began to heel as the wind caught the sails."
"Small boats heel over when a gust hits the sails from the side."
2
For a dog to walk obediently close beside its owner.
"Good boy — heel!"
"I trained my puppy to heel whenever we walk past the busy road."
"The dog heeled beside her all the way along the path."
How to use heel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the back of your foot or shoe; also slang for a villain, and a dog-training command.
Common mistake
Don't confuse "heel" with "heal" (to recover from injury) — they sound identical but mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
high heels
dig your heels in
heel of a loaf
heel!
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Word forms
- Plural
- heels
- Third person singular
- heels
- Past tense
- heeled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her new boots rubbed a blister on her _____.
Etymology
From Old English hēla, related to "hock." The "bad guy in wrestling" and "contemptible person" senses are much more recent American slang, likely from the idea of someone who is "low," like the bottom part of the foot.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
toe
babyface
Related words
Rhymes for heel
See all rhymes for heel →Frequently asked questions
What does “heel” mean?
The word “heel” means the rounded back part of the foot, or the corresponding part of a shoe or sock. In plain terms, most often the back of your foot or shoe; also slang for a villain, and a dog-training command.
How do you pronounce “heel”?
“Heel” is pronounced heel (/hil/ in IPA).
How do you use “heel” in a sentence?
Here is “heel” used in a sentence: “Her new boots rubbed a blister on her heel.”
What is another word for “heel”?
Words with a similar meaning to “heel” include boot, butt, crust, ender, knob-end and outsider.
What is the opposite of “heel”?
The opposite of “heel” — its antonyms — are toe and babyface.
What part of speech is “heel”?
Depending on how it is used, “heel” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “heel” come from?
The word “heel” comes from Old English. From Old English hēla, related to "hock." The "bad guy in wrestling" and "contemptible person" senses are much more recent American slang, likely from the idea of someone who is "low," like the bottom part of the foot.
Is “heel” a common word?
“Heel” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a heel and a face in wrestling?
In professional wrestling, a heel is a performer who plays the villain role, while a face (from "babyface") is the hero the crowd is meant to support. The heel typically uses underhanded tactics and provokes the audience, driving the storyline conflict.
What does it mean to call someone a heel?
Calling someone a heel means describing them as a contemptible, dishonest, or unscrupulous person. The term is informal and carries a strong negative judgment about someone's character or behaviour.
What does it mean when a boat heels?
When a boat or ship heels, it tilts or leans over to one side, usually because of wind pressure on its sails or a turn. This is a normal part of sailing and is distinct from capsizing, which is a complete loss of control.
What does it mean to teach a dog to heel?
Teaching a dog to heel means training it to walk obediently close beside its owner, typically at the handler's side rather than pulling ahead or lagging behind. "Heel" is also used as a command to instruct the dog to take up this position.
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