piling on

noun

An illegal strategy wherein players tackle an opposing player.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of pile on
nounpiling on (uncountable)
  1. A fighting tactic wherein multiple people attack another.
    1. uncountableAmerican footballAn illegal strategy wherein players tackle an opposing player.
    2. uncountableThe process by which additional combatants join an ongoing fight or argument when they think they know who will win so that they will be on the winning side.
    3. uncountableThe process by which multiple people pick on, complain about or list the faults of their target.
  2. An ongoing increase in a change or phenomenon, such as the popularity of a fad.
    1. broadlyuncountableThe steady addition of more problems to an already problematic situation or circumstance.
    2. broadlyuncountableDoing more and more (of something), especially when it is inappropriate or problematic, such as by continuing to break a diet
Cite this entry
APA

piling on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/piling%20on

MLA

“piling on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/piling%20on. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “piling on,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/piling%20on.

Source: piling on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.