as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass
snow piling up in the driveway at a rapid pace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in accumulation
a mass or quantity that has piled up or that has been gathered over a period of time
a pileup of e-mail messages that needed to be dealt with
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pile (up)
Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 29 Nov. 2024
The men’s 5,000-meter qualifying rounds saw a four-man pileup in one heat, which led to a shoving match between Great Britain’s George Mills and France’s Hugo Hay.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024
The Eagles downed the punt in the end zone, leading to a chaotic pileup.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Blizzard-like conditions could drop visibility to near zero, putting drivers at risk of multi-car pileups or drifting off the road, AccuWeather forecasters wrote.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pile (up) 
Noun
Then, before 9 a.m., motorists reported a pileup on westbound Interstate 96, tying up several cars and a semitruck — or two or three, according to social media reports.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 29 Nov. 2024
The men’s 5,000-meter qualifying rounds saw a four-man pileup in one heat, which led to a shoving match between Great Britain’s George Mills and France’s Hugo Hay.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024
The Eagles downed the punt in the end zone, leading to a chaotic pileup.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Blizzard-like conditions could drop visibility to near zero, putting drivers at risk of multi-car pileups or drifting off the road, AccuWeather forecasters wrote.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pile (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pile (up)
Verb
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Yes, those picks are great, and Dubas has done a fine job of accumulating them.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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This was the kind of odd, even morbid artifact that SNL has accumulated in spades over the years—and the 50th-anniversary celebration could have benefited from digging up more of them.—
Esther Zuckerman,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Crews of men have been engaged this week removing the winter’s accumulation of refuse.—
Kay Johnson,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
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Another critical transition also occurs at a specific point in time in the process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells, as the result of an accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic changes.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The collection marked a pivotal anniversary moment for designers Sally LaPointe and Sarah Adelson, who started the brand in 2008.—
Anika Reed,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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Related Articles The collection of new fragrances features six new scents that draw inspiration from fairy-tale princesses Cinderella, Tiana, Jasmine, Moana, Belle and Ariel.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Israelis gathered in a Tel Aviv square, watching the hostage release live on a large screen.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
15 Feb. 2025
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The trend has been squarely rising for the past decade, gathering pace in the pandemic, to become a defining way to travel for wealthy privacy-hunters and families looking for a hyper-luxe set-up to fly and flop across the generations.—
Giles Hattersley,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The boy was dressed in a black T-shirt and baggy jeans, and with a pile of black curls on top.—
Steve Appleford,
SPIN,
11 Feb. 2025
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While the hauling service appears to be keeping up with the county’s sludge piles for now, the contracts were issued under emergency procurement rules that don’t obligate the hauler to continue servicing the plant all day long.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Minimize noise and clutter Dr. Small says environmental triggers like loud sounds and jumbles of papers and clothing can increase sundowning symptoms.—
Cathy Habas,
SELF,
17 Jan. 2025
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Owners’ names now read like jumbles of computer code, retirement homes or rock bands: Silver Sage, Dream Homes, Blue Apple, P Fin VII, Wref II, 3xs2, Vivid, Straight Red Lines, TKJK, Jags Proper.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
24 June 2024
Noun
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Whisk together buttermilk and egg in a small bowl or glass measuring cup; add buttermilk mixture and melted butter to flour mixture and whisky gently just until combined (some lumps will remain).—
Amanda Holstein,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2025
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Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pile (up)
Cite this Entry
“Pile (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pile%20%28up%29. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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