pileup

American  

[pahyl-uhp] / ˈpaɪlˌʌp /

Or pile-up

noun

1. a massive collision of several or many moving vehicles.

2. an accumulation, as of work, chores, or bills.

3. a rough or disorderly falling of people upon one another, as in a football game.

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Etymology

Origin of pileup

First recorded in 1825–35; noun use of verb phrase pile up

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pileup

In Russia, wheat prices have fallen around 40% over the past four months because of the pileup of stored grain, according to Arkady Zlochevsky, president of the Russian Grain Union.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

And so there has been a pileup of ignominy referred to a busier-than-ever Ethics Committee.

From Slate ● Apr. 16, 2026

In my family, birthdays arrive in a cheerful pileup.

From Salon ● Feb. 3, 2026

A three-mile stretch of Highway 99 was closed for more than five hours Saturday after dense fog led to a massive vehicle pileup in Tulare County, about 40 miles north of Bakersfield.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2026

Traffic would be heavy on the bridge due to an accident, and because we were paid for travel time, we'd hope that the pileup involved at least one piece of heavy machinery.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• accumulation