A pile-up is a multiple-vehicle collision, typically involving three or more cars, trucks, or other vehicles. It's a particularly dangerous type of accident, often occurring due to poor visibility, such as in fog or heavy snow, or because of chain reactions following an initial crash. These accidents frequently involve multiple injuries and extensive damage to vehicles. The term can also be used figuratively to describe a rapid accumulation of something, like paperwork or problems. Road conditions and driver behavior are often contributing factors.
Pile-up meaning with examples
- The sudden blizzard created treacherous conditions, leading to a massive pile-up on the highway. Emergency services were overwhelmed by the number of injured drivers and passengers. Rescuers struggled to reach those trapped in the wreckage. The accident caused a complete standstill, with traffic backed up for miles, resulting in significant delays for everyone involved.
- A distracted driver's failure to stop in time caused a minor pile-up that snarled traffic for several hours. The initial impact triggered a chain reaction, with cars colliding one after another. Fortunately, injuries were minor, but the incident highlighted the dangers of inattention behind the wheel. Police investigated the scene meticulously to determine the cause and assign responsibility.
- The company experienced a pile-up of orders during the holiday season. The unexpected surge in demand put immense pressure on the manufacturing and shipping departments. Employees worked overtime to fulfill customer expectations, but delays were inevitable. They managed to get through the pile-up by the end of the year.
- After a series of unforeseen events, the project faced a pile-up of deadlines and tasks. Each missed deadline exacerbated the problem, adding to the pressure. The team had to prioritize tasks and work extra hours to meet the objectives, however the pressure continued to increase
Pile-up Synonyms
accumulation amassment build-up chain-reaction crash collision congestion multiple-vehicle collision traffic accident wreckPile-up Antonyms
decrease dwindling isolated incident reduction single-vehicle accidentPile-up Crossword Answers
5 Letters
ACCUE STACK AMASS
6 Letters
ACCRUE
8 Letters
ACCIDENT
9 Letters
AGGREGATE