freewheeling
/ˌfriːˈwiːlɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfriːˈwiːlɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌfrē-ˈ(h)wē-liŋ/ (ame, mw)
freewheeling — adjective
- freewheelingpositive
- more freewheelingcomparative
- most freewheelingsuperlative
1. describing a person, group, or style that does not follow fixed rules and prefer
describing a person, group, or style that does not follow fixed rules and prefers to work, talk, or live in a relaxed, open way
Theo loved the freewheeling debates the writing club held every Friday night.
attributive: freewheeling + noun
Jin runs a freewheeling small studio where artists choose their own hours and projects.
attributive describing a workplace style
The jazz band's freewheeling style let each musician add long, surprising solos.
Élise enjoys the freewheeling life of a freelance photographer who travels between cities.
The new boss replaced the team's freewheeling meetings with strict written agendas.
- easygoing
more about a person's temper; freewheeling stresses lack of rules
- informal
neutral register; freewheeling adds a sense of fun and freedom
- unstructured
neutral, often workplace context; freewheeling carries warmer, livelier connotation
- loose
very informal; can sound critical, whereas freewheeling is usually approving
- strict
follows rigid rules
- regimented
tightly organised and controlled
- buttoned-up
formal and reserved in manner
文法句型
freewheeling + noun
be freewheeling
用法筆記
Subject is usually a style, discussion, lifestyle, or organisation — not a single momentary act. Often appears attributively before nouns like 'style', 'discussion', 'approach', 'lifestyle'.
常見錯誤
2. cheerfully not worried about social manners or the results of one's actions; hap
cheerfully not worried about social manners or the results of one's actions; happily ignoring what others might think
Jabari has a freewheeling sense of humour that sometimes shocks his grandparents at dinner.
attributive: freewheeling + abstract noun
Renata told the story in her freewheeling way, joking about her own bad decisions.
describing a personal manner
Reuben spent a freewheeling summer hitchhiking through Spain with very little money.
Tamar's freewheeling honesty about money made her cousins both laugh and worry.
After becoming a parent, Liang traded a freewheeling student life for early bedtimes and budgets.
- carefree
very close; freewheeling adds a hint of bold, rule-ignoring energy
- happy-go-lucky
informal; stresses optimism more than rule-breaking
- devil-may-care
stronger; suggests willing to take risks
- cavalier
often disapproving; freewheeling is usually neutral or warm
- cautious
thinks carefully about results
- prudent
careful and sensible, especially about money or risk
- responsible
considers duties and consequences
文法句型
freewheeling + noun
be freewheeling
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense centres on the person's attitude to social rules and consequences, not on how an activity is organised. Often modifies words for character or life period ('humour', 'manner', 'summer', 'youth').