pile up
The phrase "pile up" can refer to the accumulation of items, the occurrence of multi-vehicle accidents, or the creation of chaotic situations.
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Definition
B2General
(common)To accumulate or gather into a heap or mass.
Example
- Leaves began to pile up in the yard as autumn progressed.
B2General
(common)To increase or multiply rapidly, often excessively.
Example
- Unpaid bills started to pile up on the kitchen counter.
C1Traffic
(technical)A series of vehicle collisions occurring in a chain reaction.
Example
- The fog caused a massive pile-up on the highway.
C1General
(informal)To create or contribute to a chaotic or disorganized situation.
Example
- The sudden change in plans caused a pile-up of confusion.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "pile up":
heap uppile onstack upjam uppiling onrack upbung uptumble upsnarl upblock upbuild upfall uppuddle uptrain wreckpig pilerun up