Standard Lemma guide

atilt

adj · adv · prep · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

At an angle from the vertical or horizontal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • The child listened, her head atilt.
  • 1954, Allen Ginsberg, Journal entry in Gordon Ball (ed.), Journals, New York: Grove, 1977, p. 70, Pink bedroom lamp, shade atilt over Uncle Abe’s ancient clean radio,

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tilted

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

At an angle from the vertical or horizontal; at the point of falling over.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • He wore his hat rakishly atilt.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

Tilting or as if tilting (charging with a lance, like a knight on horseback in a joust).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • to run / ride atilt at someone or something
  • 1895, F. F. Montrésor, Into the Highways and Hedges, New York: Appleton, Part 2, Chapter 9, p. 235, Other people may ride atilt against all the problems one bruises head and heart over. Good luck go with them, and more power to their elbows!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

prep

Meaning 4

Diagonally over or across.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1982, Jean Scott Wood Creighton (as J. S. Borthwick), The Case of the Hook-billed Kites, New York: St. Martin’s Press, Chapter 11, p. 29, [He] was balanced atilt a wooden chair, his legs resting on a low file cabinet.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: aslant

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the leaning tower of Pisa
  • the headstones were tilted

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: canted, leaning, tilted, tipped

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- English tilt English atilt From a- + tilt.