Illustration of rail
1
a
: a bar extending from one post or support to another and serving as a guard or barrier
b
: a structural member or support
2
a
b
: a light structure serving as a guard at the outer edge of a ship's deck
c
: a fence bounding a racetrack
plural rail or rails
: any of numerous wading birds (family Rallidae, the rail family) that are of small or medium size and have short rounded wings, a short tail, and usually very long toes which enable them to run on the soft mud of marshes
railed; railing; rails
: to revile or scold in harsh, insolent, or abusive language
railer
noun
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (2)
Examples of rail in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail
an abandoned stretch of rail that was overgrown with brush
Verb (2)
we could hear the cook in the kitchen railing against his assistant and wondered if we'd ever get our food
Recent Examples on the Web
Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Today’s Democratic party has gone off the rails by throwing open our Southern border and allowing millions of unvetted migrants to enter illegally.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025
Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Feb. 2025
After President Trump and his supporters railed against a Washington, D.C. Episcopal bishop's sermon during his inaugural prayer service, local Episcopal churches saw a wave of support and membership interest.
—Erin Alberty, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rail 
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Noun
Or the awkwardness of a conversation going off the rails, with each party talking past the other.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Today’s Democratic party has gone off the rails by throwing open our Southern border and allowing millions of unvetted migrants to enter illegally.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
Trump initially railed against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the FAA as a factor in the crash but has since cited obsolete equipment, understaffing, and the helicopter flying too high.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Feb. 2025
After President Trump and his supporters railed against a Washington, D.C. Episcopal bishop's sermon during his inaugural prayer service, local Episcopal churches saw a wave of support and membership interest.
—Erin Alberty, Axios, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for rail
Dictionary Entries Near rail
Cite this Entry
“Rail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rail. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rail
1 of 4 noun1
a
: a bar extending from one support to another and serving as a guard or barrier
b
2
a
: a bar of steel forming a track for wheeled vehicles
b
: railroad
rail
2 of 4 verb
: to provide with a railing
rail
3 of 4 noun
plural rails or rail
: any of various small wading birds related to the cranes
rail
4 of 4 verb
: to scold or complain in harsh or bitter language
railer
noun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English raile "bar, rail," from early French raille, reille "bar, ruler," from Latin regula "straightedge, ruler," from regere "to lead straight, govern, rule" — related to regent, regulate, rule
Noun
Middle English raile "rail (the bird)," from early French raalie (same meaning)
Verb
Middle English railen "to scold, be abusive to," from early French railler "to mock," probably derived from Latin ragere "to neigh"
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