keel over

phrasal verb

keeled over; keeling over; keels over
informal
: to fall down suddenly
He just keeled over and died from a heart attack.
I almost keeled over with/in laughter.

Examples of keel over in a Sentence

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.
Dunning’s deadpan style ensures none of the humor keels over to the snide. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025 Almighty God, Who sees and knows all things, And for whom all things are possible, May this guy keel over of a heart attack Or something. Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Keel over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keel%20over. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

keel over

verb
: to fall suddenly (as in a faint)

More from Merriam-Webster on keel over

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