to heel

Examples

• All

• The boat began to heel, and Hilary braced his feet against the leeward seat.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Boats heeled dangerously as passengers shifted to one side.

  Fiction book (2001)

• At that moment, a sudden gust of wind caused the ship to heel sharply.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Kittiwake heeled over, water bubbling past her hull.

  Fiction book (1994)

• The wind billowed out the canvas and pushed us through the strait; we heeled north into the open sea.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Yosemite swung sharply to starboard and heeled over with the momentum of the turn.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Even before the order was completed, the vessel heeled violently as Knaff the Elder pulled the rudder to port.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Since they weren't allowed to rebalance her load, the Alma L. listed starboard and eventually heeled over in the waves.

  Fiction book (1996)

• A tiny adjustment by Knaff, and she heeled back, dipping the starboard rail toward the surface before bobbing upright.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The sailboat heeled sharply to one side when the wind picked up, making it hard to keep balance.

Synonyms

T

to tilt

vsto heel

147 2.0

To move into a sloping or leaning position

is used for boats leaning because of wind or motion specifically

L

to list

vsto heel

32 8.8

To tilt to one side, often describing a ship

is a lean described as caused by wind or movement rather than by intent

B

to bank

vsto heel

6 6.4

To tilt a vehicle or plane to one side when turning

is a lean caused by wind or movement rather than by turning

Antonyms

S

to stabilize

• US

75 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

R

to right

41 4.4

To put something back into an upright position

Idioms

T

to turn on one's heel

3 7.4

To leave quickly by suddenly walking away because you are angry or shocked

D

down at heel

• UK

1 8.2

Looking old and in poor condition because of poverty

Phrasal Verbs

B

to bring to heel

• Informal

3 7.6

Make someone or something obey after they resist

Compounds

A

Achilles' heel

• Informal

11 6.3

A small but serious weakness in someone or something that can cause failure

H

high heel

6 2.7

A woman's shoe that raises the back of the foot high

S

stiletto heel

4 4.4

A very thin, high part under women's shoes that ends in a small point

S

spike heel

3 5.0

A very high, thin part at the back of a woman's shoe that ends in a small point

C

Cuban heel

1 7.2

A medium-height heel on shoes like boots, slightly tapered at the back

K

kitten heel

1 6.1

A woman's shoe with a short thin heel that gives a small lift

S

stacked heel

• Specialized

1 6.5

A shoe heel made from many thin layers of leather or other material

W

wedge heel

1 3.7

A thick triangular part under a shoe that lifts the back of the foot

B

block heel

3.3

A wide, square heel on a shoe that gives good balance

C

chunky heel

3.8

A wide, thick heel on a shoe or boot that gives more balance

F

French heel

7.4

A fairly high, narrow part at the back of a shoe that curves inward

H

heel counter

• Specialized

7.2

A piece of stiff material at the back of a shoe that supports the heel

H

heel tip

• Specialized

5.8

The small part at the back bottom of a shoe that touches the ground and can be replaced

I

iron heel

• NSFW

9.9

A heavy iron tool used to crush a foot or leg to hurt someone

T

Tar Heel State

6.8

A nickname for the state of North Carolina in the United States

W

wineglass heel

7.7

The thin raised back of a woman's shoe is narrow at base, wider in middle, narrow at top

How Tilted

to capsize

21 6.0

to tip over

27 3.0

to heel

• Specialized

4 7.3

to tilt

147 2.0

to lean

418 1.5

Surface Forms

Etymology