wheelie

American

[hwee-lee, wee-] / ˈʰwi li, ˈwi- /

noun

a small, usually folding, metal frame with wheels for carrying luggage or small packages.
a maneuver in which a bicycle, motorcycle, or car has its front wheel or wheels momentarily lifted off the ground.

wheelie British

/ ˈwiːlɪ /

noun

a manoeuvre on a bicycle or motorbike in which the front wheel is raised off the ground

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of wheelie

First recorded in 1960–65; wheel + -ie

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Masked protesters are seen taking cover behind wheelie bins and bonfires, while a row of security forces is seen in the distance.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

Mr Hargreaves said he had already planned his next challenge with his friend, to ride a tandem bike with wheelie bins attached, from Land's End in Cornwall to John O'Groats in Scotland.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

Popping a bike wheelie may be a rite of childhood, but not everyone is successful, and no one has ever been as successful as Oscar Delaite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

Only one person has done a single wheelie for six and a half hours.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

"Pepperidge Farm," Park said, standing on the back of the cart and popping a wheelie.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023