pileup

KK[ˈpaɪlˌʌp]IPA/ˈpaɪl.ʌp/

pileup — noun

1. a road accident in which several vehicles crash into each other, usually one aft

1.名詞B1
釋義

a road accident in which several vehicles crash into each other, usually one after another.

例句

A thick fog caused a 15-car pileup on the highway near Taipei.

pileup + of + number + vehicles + on + location

Diego was stuck in traffic for two hours because of a pileup on the bridge.

同義詞

文法句型

a + pileup

pileup + of + [number] + vehicles

用法筆記

Commonly used with a number indicating how many vehicles were involved, e.g. a 10-car pileup. The word nearly always refers to traffic accidents.

常見錯誤

❌There was a pileup of books on my desk.
✅There was a pile of books on my desk.
💡For a stack of objects, use 'pile', not 'pileup'. 'Pileup' for traffic only in this sense.

2. a disorderly heap or crowd formed when people or things become stuck, crushed, o

2.名詞B2
釋義

a disorderly heap or crowd formed when people or things become stuck, crushed, or pressed together, often after a sudden stop or collision.

例句

The emergency exit was blocked by a pileup of chairs and boxes from the storage room.

pileup + of + [objects] — physical heap

When the train braked suddenly, passengers fell forward into a pileup near the doors.

同義詞
  • jumble

    emphasises things mixed together untidily; less about pressure or force

  • tangle

    suggests things are twisted together, like wires or hair

  • logjam

    metaphorical — used for stalled processes, not physical heaps

文法句型

a + pileup + of + [people / vehicles / objects]

用法筆記

Less common than the traffic sense. When used for people, it describes an accidental crushing together (e.g. in a crowd or a vehicle), not an organised gathering.

3. a large amount of something that builds up gradually over time, especially paper

3.名詞B2
釋義

a large amount of something that builds up gradually over time, especially paperwork, tasks, or other things waiting to be dealt with.

例句

After her holiday, Anika faced a pileup of emails that took all morning to answer.

pileup + of + [unprocessed items] — backlog

The pileup of unread reports on Wei's desk kept growing every week.

同義詞
  • backlog

    specifically of work or tasks that should have been dealt with earlier

  • buildup

    gradual increase of something; can be positive or neutral

  • accumulation

    neutral and formal; the general process of gathering

文法句型

a + pileup + of + [uncountable noun]

用法筆記

Often carries a slightly negative tone — the build-up is unwanted or overwhelming. Overlaps with 'backlog', but 'pileup' emphasises the physical or mental weight of the accumulation.

常見錯誤

❌There is a pileup of snow in the driveway.
✅There is a pile of snow in the driveway.
💡For natural accumulations like snow or leaves, 'pile' is more natural than 'pileup'.