Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Riley

//ˈɹaɪ.li// name

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname. countable

    "Ibarra also deprived Riley of oxygen long enough to cause wounds and “intended to kill her,” Ross said."

  2. 2
    A surname.; A surname from Irish of Irish origin, variant of Reilly. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    A surname.; An English habitational surname from Old English, from Ryley in Lancashire (see Etymology above). countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A unisex given name.; A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage. countable, uncountable

    "Riley Barnes, nominated to serve as assistant secretary of State for democracy, human rights and labor, revealed his dangerous proclivities to Kaine in his opening statement when he said that “all men are created equal because our rights come from God, our creator; not from our laws, not from our governments.”"

  5. 5
    A unisex given name.; A female given name from surname, of 1990s and later usage. countable, uncountable

    "Near the end of Sasquatch Sunset, the gloriously weird feature from David and Nathan Zellner, Riley Keough wordlessly conveys a slowly creeping moment of profound existential despair that crushes your heart with its bleakness."

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    A placename; A town in Riley Township, Vigo County, Indiana, United States. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A placename; A town in Center Township, Hancock County, Indiana, United States. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A placename; A number of townships in the United States, listed under Riley Township. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    A placename; A crater in Niobe Planitia, Venus. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    A placename; Ellipsis of Riley County. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
  6. 11
    A placename; Ellipsis of Riley Creek. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
  7. 12
    A manufacturer of British motorcars (1907-1969) named after William Riley Jr. countable, uncountable

Etymology

* From Ryley in Lancashire, from Old English ryge (“rye”) + leah (“clearing, meadow”). Equivalent to rye + -ley (“lea”). * A variant of Reilly, from Irish Ó Raghallaigh (see O'Reilly).

See also for "riley"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: riley