Wheelie

/ˈ(h)wiːli/ · noun

Meaning

(informal) An action or stunt where a bicycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle is ridden for a short period while it is standing only on its rear wheel or wheels..

Definitions by Sense

1. (informal) An action or stunt where a bicycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle is ridden for a short period while it is standing only on its rear wheel or wheels.
2. (informal, chiefly Australia) A wheelchair user.
3. (intransitive, informal) To ride, or perform the stunt of riding, a vehicle on its rear wheel or wheels.
4. (informal) Alternative spelling of wheely (“having wheels; mounted on wheels”).

Example Sentences

Jim fell off his bike when he was trying to do a wheelie.

With them [bicycles], children can accomplish such unique and delightfully dangerous stunts as “wheelies”—that is, riding at a fast speed with the machine's front wheel raised completely above the ground.

Bikes are pointing their noses in the air nowadays with the help of a new gadget called the Wheelie-Bar. By attaching the device to the rear of your cycle, you can tilt back on the hind wheel; wooden skate rollers at the end of the bar let you ride high, the way stock-car dragsters do.

In keeping with his overall emphasis on skill, [Doug] Domokos says his most difficult trick is one he performs on solid ground. During the show, you'll see him pull up the front wheel of his ATV [all-terrain vehicle], then step over the handlebars and continue the wheelie while seated on the headlight.

I learned how to let the clutch out slo-ow-ly so my tractor wouldn't pop a wheely and go hauling over backward.

The bikers pop wheelies and execute speedy figure eights along the busy street. Still, something more purposeful than joyriding would seem to be on their minds.

It is also a nightmare for the wheelies, or wheelchair users. Not only is it hard enough to find a bloody wheelchair in the airport these days, but to push them to this back-of-beyond gate is a job in itself.

Of the wheelchair users, or wheelies[…], Phil is the other group leader. He has been paraplegic for about ten years. The idea of the group leaders is that they provide support and encouragement from a position of experience.

Synonyms for wheelie

Antonyms for wheelie

Related Words

Word Forms

• wheelies
• wheely
• wheelieing
• wheelied
• wheelier
• more wheelie
• wheeliest
• most wheelie

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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