freewheel

/ˌfriːˈwiːl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfriːˈwiːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrē-ˈ(h)wēl/ (ame, mw)

freewheel — 動詞

  • freewheelpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • freewheelshe / she / it
  • freewheeledpast simple
  • freewheeling-ing form

1. to let a bike, car, or similar vehicle roll forward on its own after you stop pe

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

滑行

停踩或停動力後順勢前進

to let a bike, car, or similar vehicle roll forward on its own after you stop pedalling or stop using power.

例句

Takeshi stopped pedalling and freewheeled down the quiet hill to the bridge.

Takeshi 停止踩踏後，順著安靜的坡道滑行到橋邊。

freewheel down [hill/road] after pedalling stops

The old van freewheeled into the garage after the engine suddenly died.

那輛老廂型車在引擎突然熄火後，順勢滑進了車庫。

freewheel into [place] after power stops

同義詞
  • coast

    the closest everyday verb; broader and less tied to wheel mechanisms

  • glide

    stresses smooth movement rather than the loss of power

反義詞
  • pedal

    to make a bicycle move by pushing the pedals

  • accelerate

    to increase power or speed instead of letting motion continue on its own

文法句型

freewheel down [hill/road]

freewheel into/to [place]

用法筆記

Usually used for bicycles, carts, and vehicles when forward motion continues after active effort stops. Distinguish from verb/2, which describes an unrestricted way of living or working rather than literal movement.

常見錯誤

❌He freewheeled the bike uphill.
✅He pedalled the bike uphill.
💡'freewheel' usually describes rolling without extra power, not powering a vehicle uphill.

2. to live or act in a loose, unplanned way, following your own wishes with too lit

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

隨興行事

做事生活鬆散，缺少約束

to live or act in a loose, unplanned way, following your own wishes with too little control or responsibility.

例句

After leaving his office job, Femi freewheeled around Europe for six months.

離開辦公室工作後，Femi 隨興地在歐洲晃了六個月。

freewheel around [place] in an unplanned way

The band freewheeled through the rehearsal, joking and changing the song order.

那支樂團排練時很隨興，一邊開玩笑一邊改歌序。

freewheel through [activity] without structure

同義詞
  • improvise

    can be positive and creative, while 'freewheel' often suggests less discipline

  • drift

    suggests weak direction; 'freewheel' adds a sense of carefree or irresponsible freedom

反義詞
  • organize

    to work in a planned and controlled way

  • restrain

    to hold yourself or others back instead of acting freely

文法句型

freewheel through [period/activity]

freewheel around [place]

用法筆記

Often appears with through or around when describing a period of life, a group, or a project that is running with little discipline. Distinguish from verb/1, which is about physical rolling after power stops.

常見錯誤

❌The team freewheeled the new rules.
✅The team freewheeled through the season and ignored the new rules.
💡this sense is intransitive and describes loose behaviour, not an action done to an object.

freewheel — 名詞