rile

[ rahyl ]

/ raɪl /

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See synonyms for: rile / riled / riles on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), riled, ril·ing.Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S.

to irritate or vex.

to roil (water or the like).

OTHER WORDS FOR rile

1 irk, annoy, provoke, chafe, nettle.

See synonyms for rile on Thesaurus.com

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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

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Origin of rile

First recorded in 1815–25; variant of roil

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rile in a sentence

He was waiting for the man to exit the neighboring stall, feeling ever more riled, when he decided to kick the door down.
Exclusive: ‘X-Men’ Sex Abuse Lawyer Says He Was Assaulted, Too|Tim Teeman|May 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When he was at the U.S. Open and there were so many different matches, or whatever, and he gets the fan so riled up.
Comedy’s R-Rated Queen Amy Schumer Is Raunchier Than Ever|Kevin Fallon|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Americans get riled up about creationists and climate change deniers, but lap up the quasi-religious snake oil at Whole Foods.
Whole Foods: America’s Temple of Pseudoscience|Michael Schulson|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That last comment crystallizes why the respective fan groups get so riled up when their franchises are pitted against each other.
Will ‘Hunger Games’ Fans and ‘Twilight’ Fans Ever Get Along?|Kevin Fallon|November 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST

What was it about Wicked that got critics so riled up a decade ago?
A ‘Wicked’ Decade: How a Critically Trashed Musical Became a Long-Running Smash|Kevin Fallon|October 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I was a little riled at first myself, but the second and last lady who came out put me in excellent humor.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Jim Fenton's a good-natered man when he ain't riled, but he'd sooner fight nor eat when he is.
Sevenoaks|J. G. Holland
I was considerably riled up just about then, and could have laid down my life rather than have let him escape.
Shadow, the Mysterious Detective|Police Captain Howard
Gran'dad's got a awful temper when he's good an' riled, but usual' he's still as a mouse.
Mary Louise in the Country|L. Frank Baum (AKA Edith Van Dyne)
This riled Bob up awful, and he came right at me, like a mad bull at a red shawl.
The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers. Series 1|Robert H. Newell

British Dictionary definitions for rile

rile

/ (raɪl) /

verb (tr)

to annoy or anger; irritate

US and Canadian to stir up or agitate (water, etc); roil or make turbid

Word Origin for rile

C19: variant of roil

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rile

OTHER WORDS FOR rile

Origin of rile

Words related to rile

How to use rile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rile

Word Origin for rile