keel over
phrasal verb
keeled over; keeling over; keels over
informal
: to fall down suddenly
He just keeled over and died from a heart attack.
I almost keeled over with/in laughter.
Examples of keel over in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 5,000-ton warship appears to be keeled over, stuck on a slideway in the northeast city of Chongjin, and may be partially submerged, analysts say.
—
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The two strike up a bromance that then keels over to one side because Craig is socially inept and, in the end, envious, qualities that fuel inappropriate interactions that get ever more cringey after a disastrous bro-out session with Austin’s friends.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Nora keels over but still won’t give up her friend’s location.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 May 2025
Dunning’s deadpan style ensures none of the humor keels over to the snide.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
Almighty God, Who sees and knows all things, And for whom all things are possible,
May this guy keel over of a heart attack
Or something.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
In a video first posted to the Mississippi legislature’s YouTube page that has since been deleted but posted elsewhere, Hosemann, 77, can be seen standing at the podium before bowing his head, slowly keeling over into the microphone, and then collapsing to the side.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Feb. 2025
The Boss The boss knew something was wrong when the hens stopped keeling over.
—Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
For Now: Barca star will return during legal battle
Try not to keel over in shock but Barcelona have secured permission to continue fielding Dani Olmo.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The two strike up a bromance that then keels over to one side because Craig is socially inept and, in the end, envious, qualities that fuel inappropriate interactions that get ever more cringey after a disastrous bro-out session with Austin’s friends.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Nora keels over but still won’t give up her friend’s location.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 11 May 2025
Dunning’s deadpan style ensures none of the humor keels over to the snide.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
Almighty God, Who sees and knows all things, And for whom all things are possible,
May this guy keel over of a heart attack
Or something.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
In a video first posted to the Mississippi legislature’s YouTube page that has since been deleted but posted elsewhere, Hosemann, 77, can be seen standing at the podium before bowing his head, slowly keeling over into the microphone, and then collapsing to the side.
—Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Feb. 2025
The Boss The boss knew something was wrong when the hens stopped keeling over.
—Meridith Kohut, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
For Now: Barca star will return during legal battle
Try not to keel over in shock but Barcelona have secured permission to continue fielding Dani Olmo.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keel over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keel%20over. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share