Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Free of restraints or rules in organization, methods, or procedure.
  • adjective Heedless of consequences; carefree.
  • adjective Relating to or equipped with a free wheel.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective acting heedless of consequences; acting without controls, external or internal.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of freewheel.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective cheerfully irresponsible
  • adjective free of restraints or rules

Etymologies

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Examples

  • I like the idea of freewheeling conversation and all I simply want is for civility from those who care about this site. 99% of the time all is well but sometimes it gets out of kilter.

    Archive 2009-08-06 2009

  • Davis has also been known as a freewheeling shooter, whose selection and accuracy .410 career percentage can grate on coaches.

    NYT > Home Page By HOWARD BECK 2011

  • The mixtape is a collection of mid-tempo tracks that can best be described as a freewheeling blend of punchy electro with contemporary hip hop textures.

    :: arjanwrites music blog :: 2009

  • In 2006 the case was thrown out by California's supreme court, which ruled that this kind of freewheeling babble, albeit offensive and embarrassing when circulated in court documents, was an entirely essential element of the "creative workplace" required to make the show – a show that, in case you needed reminding, was hardly Tramadol Nights in terms of nihilistic edginess.

    Charlie Brooker: We shouldn't have to feel paranoid about snoops listening in to everything we say 2011

  • Former President Bush gave a closed-door speech to some of his old administration staffers last night -- and offered what one attendee told Fox News was a more frank and "freewheeling" version of the interviews he's been doing to promote 'Decision Points'.

    Bush jokes about 'bring 'em on' Rachel Weiner 2010

  • And if you're the sort of person who resents bicycle messengers for their freewheeling lifestyle I mean "freewheeling" figuratively, since of course the fashionable ones use track bikes just take a moment to consider the alternatives from which they've managed to escape.

    BSNYC Friday Fun Quiz! BikeSnobNYC 2009

  • That kind of freewheeling, unashamedly hearty sexual appetite and success has been the role model ever since ... well, ever since Simone de Beauvoir, whose nude photo (back view) is on the cover of this week's Nouvel Observateur.

    Sarkozy in Love Nidra Poller 2008

  • That kind of freewheeling, unashamedly hearty sexual appetite and success has been the role model ever since ... well, ever since Simone de Beauvoir, whose nude photo (back view) is on the cover of this week's Nouvel Observateur.

    Sarkozy in Love 2008

  • He talked a little more about various stuff, kind of freewheeling and talking about politics and environmentalism.

    Bruce Sterling in Chicago 2004

  • The kind of freewheeling basic research that spawned new industries—from genetic engineering and the integrated circuit to wireless telephony and e-commerce—is in serious decline.

    Archive 2005-05-01 Jim Horning 2005

Comments

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  • The Lexicographer's Rules: 'Our gathering is a more freewheeling affair (meaning, largely unstructured and without rules), and is meant to be fun. It’s whimsical.'

    January 14, 2009

  • My adjectival use: 'You may easily loose control of a freewheeling bicycle.'

    August 22, 2011