beeline

1 of 2

noun

bee·​line ˈbē-ˌlīn How to pronounce beeline (audio)
: a straight direct course

beeline

2 of 2

verb

beelined; beelining; beelines

intransitive verb

: to go quickly in a straight direct course

Examples of beeline in a Sentence

Verb He beelined out the door.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Hayes fired his gun after the man made a beeline from across the street, tackled Hayes and knocked him to the ground before grabbing him around the neck on a sidewalk, video shows. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 13 Sep. 2024 Jim Harbaugh made a beeline toward midfield, shook Raiders coach Antonio Pierce’s hand and turned right around toward the sideline. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2024
Verb
Snow bunnies will want to beeline it to the Queenstown Lakes and Canterbury regions for the best skiing conditions in the Southern Hemisphere, according to Sarah Handley, general manager of the Americas and Europe at Tourism New Zealand. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2024 Now speeding at 90 mph, the Kia beelined toward Interstate 95 and took an on-ramp. Jack Lemnus, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for beeline 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from the belief that nectar-laden bees return to their hives in a direct line

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beeline was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near beeline

Cite this Entry

“Beeline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beeline. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

beeline

noun
bee·​line
ˈbē-ˌlīn
: a straight direct course

More from Merriam-Webster on beeline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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