English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

wheelhouse

WEEL-hows

Wheelhouse (noun) means the enclosed area on a ship or boat from which it is steered. Example: “The captain stood in the wheelhouse, guiding the ferry into port.”

noun
1
The enclosed area on a ship or boat from which it is steered.
"The captain stood in the wheelhouse, guiding the ferry into port."
2
A person's particular area of skill, interest, or expertise.
"Fixing old engines is right in his wheelhouse."

How to use wheelhouse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLiterally, the steering compartment of a boat; figuratively, someone's comfort zone of expertise.

Common pairings
right in someone's wheelhouse outside my wheelhouse

Word forms

wheelhouses plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “wheelhouse” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The captain stood in the _____, guiding the ferry into port.

Etymology

From "wheel" plus "house" — originally the housing around a ship's steering wheel; the figurative sense (baseball, then general use) comes from the idea of a batter's favorite pitch zone.

Related words

Rhymes for wheelhouse

See all rhymes for wheelhouse →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wheelhouse” mean?

The word “wheelhouse” means the enclosed area on a ship or boat from which it is steered. In plain terms, literally, the steering compartment of a boat; figuratively, someone's comfort zone of expertise.

How do you pronounce “wheelhouse”?

“Wheelhouse” is pronounced WEEL-hows (/ˈwilˌhaʊs/ in IPA).

How do you use “wheelhouse” in a sentence?

Here is “wheelhouse” used in a sentence: “The captain stood in the wheelhouse, guiding the ferry into port.”

What part of speech is “wheelhouse”?

“Wheelhouse” is a noun.

How many meanings does “wheelhouse” have?

“Wheelhouse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the enclosed area on a ship or boat from which it is steered.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial