# wheels

/ˈhwiɫz/ (US) · /wˈiːlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wheels
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. a car

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal · Slang

a casual word for a car or any vehicle with wheels.

For teachers: a metonymic term for an automobile or other wheeled vehicle. Plural in form but often refers to a single vehicle.

- I finally saved enough money to buy my own wheels.
- He was incredibly proud of his new wheels, spending every Saturday morning polishing the chrome until it gleamed in the driveway.

## Examples

- I finally got my own wheels.
- He spent all summer working at the garage just so he could afford some decent wheels for college.
- While the public transport system is reliable, having your own set of wheels provides a level of autonomy that is hard to replicate in more rural areas.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.