carload

noun

car·​load ˈkär-ˈlōd How to pronounce carload (audio)
-ˌlōd
Synonyms of carloadnext
1
: a load (as of occupants) that fills a car
a carload of tourists
2
: the minimum number of tons required for shipping at carload rates
3
: a large unspecified quantity
a carload of excuses

Examples of carload in a Sentence

She brought home a carload of books. People were arriving by the carload.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The children, their mother and Covington hauled carloads of belongings to their new place. Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026 Illinois is the nation’s rail hub, ranking first among the states in rail tons and rail carloads moved; half of all container railcars in the nation flow through Chicago. Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026 Liuzzo was ferrying people back to Selma from Montgomery on March 25 after the conclusion of the final, successful march to the state capital when a carload of Ku Klux Klansmen, one an FBI informant, chased her down and shot her through her car window. Aniko Bodroghkozy, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026 When the carloads of masked men showed up outside, these strangers chased them away with whistles. Nick Woltman, Twin Cities, 22 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carload

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carload was in 1567

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Cite this Entry

“Carload.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carload. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

carload

noun
car·​load ˈkär-ˈlōd How to pronounce carload (audio)
: a load (as of passengers) that fills a car
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