riley
adjective
turbid; roily.
riley
1 American
[rahy-lee]
/ ˈraɪ li /
adjective
Chiefly Northern and North Midland U.S.
-
turbid; roily.
-
angry; vexed.
Riley
2
American
[rahy-lee]
/ ˈraɪ li /
Riley
1
British
/ ˈraɪlɪ /
noun
-
Bridget ( Louise ). born 1931, English painter, best known for her black-and-white op art paintings of the 1960s
-
Gina . born 1961, Australian television actress and writer, best known for playing 'Kim' in the comedy series Kath & Kim (2002–07)
Riley
2
British
/ ˈraɪlɪ /
noun
riley
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of riley
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Oh! don't you get riley, you and I ran against each other when I came in, but we'll be friends yet.
From Our American Cousin by Tom Taylor
"Wheu!" ejaculated the sailor, picking up a bit of shingle from the ground, and searching for a jackknife which jingled against the silver crown in his pocket, "getting riley, now, ain't you?"
From Silent Struggles by Ann S. (Ann Sophia) Stephens
She's always riley when she doesn't get plenty to drink," said Pine, "but she hasn't kicked once in all this.
From Two Arrows A Story of Red and White by William Osborn Stoddard
But everything has its drawbacks, the water there hain't like Jonesville water; I don't say it to twit 'em, but it is a solemn truth, the water is riley, they can't dispute it.
From Samantha at the St. Louis Exposition by Marietta Holley
"Well, it looked kind of riley if you got under the soap that was floatin' on top," Johnnie admitted.
From The Rich Little Poor Boy by Eleanor Gates
Mr. Riley, a professor and presidential historian at the University of Virginia, arranges the book mostly chronologically, starting with President Bush’s early life and going through the end of his second term.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Mr. Riley skillfully selects recollections that highlight the staff’s uncertainty during the protracted postelection fight over Florida’s recount.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
As Mr. Riley explains in a footnote, “this disclosure notified the terrorists that their communications were not secure and thus induced them to change methods.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
USC coach Lincoln Riley said criticism of the Trojan’s home opener crowd is being lobbed by people who haven’t been to games at the Coliseum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
I showed her the book Miss Riley had given me.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
