Freewheel
noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft.
- 2 a clutch (as on the rear wheel of a bicycle) that allows wheels to turn freely (as in coasting) wordnet
- 3 The mode or state of operation thus produced: Synonym of neutral.
Verb
- 1 To continue spinning after disengagement.
- 2 coast in a vehicle using the freewheel wordnet
- 3 To ride a bicycle without pedalling, e.g. downhill.
"On her elderly bicycle with the basketwork carrier on the handle-bars, Dorothy free-wheeled down the hill, doing mental arithmetic with three pounds nineteen and fourpence--her entire stock of money until next quarter-day."
- 4 live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely wordnet
- 5 To operate a motor vehicle which is coasting without power, e.g. downhill.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To operate free from constraints. broadly, figuratively
Example
More examples"On her elderly bicycle with the basketwork carrier on the handle-bars, Dorothy free-wheeled down the hill, doing mental arithmetic with three pounds nineteen and fourpence--her entire stock of money until next quarter-day."
Etymology
From free + wheel.
Related phrases
More for "freewheel"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.