Standard Lemma guide

beeline

noun · verb · 4 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.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈbiːlaɪn/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːlaɪn

1

noun

Meaning 1

A very direct or quick path or trip.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • to make / strike a beeline for / to something
  • The children made a beeline to the swimming pool.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A dynamite fuse made with a small quantity of dynamite powder along its length, so that the spark travels quickly and at a specific known rate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Topics: business, mining

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To travel in a straight line, ignoring established paths of travel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the most direct route

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he made a beeline for the bathroom

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: path, route, itinerary

History

Etymology

From bee + line, due to the belief that a bee returns to its hive in a straight course, originally an Americanism.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bashkir: тура һауа юлы (tura hawa yulı) — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Czech: vzdušná čára — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Czech: přímá dráha — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Czech: přímá cesta — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Dutch: rechte lijn — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Finnish: lyhin reitti — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • French: à vol d'oiseau — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • German: Luftlinie — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Polish: najprostsza droga — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Russian: прямиком (prjamikom) — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Russian: напряму́ю (naprjamúju) — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Russian: по прямо́й (po prjamój) — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Spanish: derechera — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel
  • Spanish: derecera — straight course, ignoring established paths of travel