noun

wheelie

WEE-lee

Wheelie (noun) means a stunt in which a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden balanced only on its rear wheel. Example: “He popped a wheelie right in front of his friends.”

noun

A stunt in which a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden balanced only on its rear wheel.

"He popped a wheelie right in front of his friends."

verb

To ride a vehicle balanced on its rear wheel(s) only.

"She learned to wheelie on her BMX bike over the summer."

How to use wheelie

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe trick of riding on the back wheel alone, popular with cyclists and motorcyclists.

Common pairings

pop a wheelie do a wheelie

Word forms

wheelied past tense, wheelies plural, wheelies singular

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He popped a _____ right in front of his friends.

Etymology

Formed from "wheel" plus the informal "-ie" ending, common in casual nicknames for actions and objects.

Rhymes for wheelie

pie die lie tie sie vie hie i.e. brie movie eerie moxie

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Frequently asked questions

What does “wheelie” mean?

The word “wheelie” means a stunt in which a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden balanced only on its rear wheel. In plain terms, the trick of riding on the back wheel alone, popular with cyclists and motorcyclists.

How do you pronounce “wheelie”?

“Wheelie” is pronounced WEE-lee (/ˈ(h)wili/ in IPA).

How do you use “wheelie” in a sentence?

Here is “wheelie” used in a sentence: “He popped a wheelie right in front of his friends.”

What part of speech is “wheelie”?

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

How many meanings does “wheelie” have?

“Wheelie” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a stunt in which a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden balanced only on its rear wheel.