pileup

noun

pile·​up ˈpī(-ə)l-ˌəp How to pronounce pileup (audio)
1
: a collision involving usually several motor vehicles
2
a
: a jammed tangled mass or pile (as of motor vehicles or people) resulting from collision or accumulation

Examples of pileup in a Sentence

A five-car pileup slowed traffic. a pileup of e-mail messages that needed to be dealt with
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Several big names from the NASCAR Cup Series were affected by the pileup, including Brad Keselowski, Ryan Preece, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce sightings in South Florida are becoming as common as pileups on the Palmetto Expressway these days. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025 Most rosters aren’t built to survive injury pileups, but the Current roster should be able to weather the storm. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025 But Hindley’s legs were never tested — during slippery roads on a rainy stage six, a mass pileup left the Australian worst off. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pileup

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pileup was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pileup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pileup. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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