third-wheel

verb

To act as a third wheel; to accompany two people, unwanted, on a date.

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Meanings

verbthird-wheel (third-person singular simple present third-wheels, present participle third-wheeling, simple past and past participle third-wheeled)

present singular third person third-wheels · participle present third-wheeling · participle past third-wheeled · past third-wheeled

  1. ambitransitiveTo act as a third wheel; to accompany two people, unwanted, on a date.
    1 more example

    The Argentine polo star, Ralph Lauren model and personal pal to Harry was with the royal couple on Thursday as he and Harry’s polo team scored the winning trophy at the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup. He even third-wheeled the newlyweds as the pair shared a congratulatory kiss after the charity match, a hilarious moment caught by photographers.

    2018 July 28, Dave Quinn, “Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 'Found Each Other to Change the World,' Says Couple's Pal”, in People

Origin

From third wheel.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese segurar vela
  • segurar velato accompany two people on a date
Cite this entry
APA

third-wheel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/third-wheel

MLA

“third-wheel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/third-wheel. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “third-wheel,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/third-wheel.

Source: third-wheel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.