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
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkiːl ˈəʊvə(ɹ)/
General-American:/ˈkil ˈoʊvɚ/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
verb
Meaning 1
Of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover; to capsize or turn turtle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, figuratively, intransitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To collapse in a faint; to black out, to swoon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, intransitive
Examples
We should all go inside before somebody keels over from the heat.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To die.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
turn over and fall
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the man had a heart attack and keeled over
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: tumble, topple
History
Etymology
The original nautical meaning (sense 1) refers to a vessel rolling to the extent that its keel (“a large beam along the underside of the vessel’s hull from bow to stern”) is visible.
Across languages
Translations
21 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Dutch:
omvallen
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Dutch:
kapseizen
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
French:
se retourner
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
French:
se renverser
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
French:
chavirer
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Galician:
volcar
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
German:
kentern
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Polish:
wywracać się
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Polish:
wywrócić się
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Polish:
przewracać się
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Polish:
przewrócić się
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Russian:
переверну́ться
(perevernútʹsja)
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Spanish:
zozobrar
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Spanish:
volcar
— of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover — see also capsize
Dutch:
flauw vallen
— to collapse in a faint — see also faint
French:
tomber dans les pommes
— to collapse in a faint — see also faint
Greek:
ντεραπάρω
(nterapáro)
— to collapse in a faint — see also faint
Polish:
mdleć
— to collapse in a faint — see also faint
Polish:
zemdleć
— to collapse in a faint — see also faint
Russian:
отключи́ться
(otključítʹsja)
— to collapse in a faint — see also faint
Russian:
вы́рубиться
(výrubitʹsja)
— to collapse in a faint — see also faint
