Definition of birlnext
chiefly Scottish
as in to drink
to take part in drunken revelry spent a good part of his time in Edinburgh birling into the wee small hours of the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of birl There was sea salt in the air, and sleepless seagulls were birling in the darkness overhead. Douglas Stuart, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2020 In some parts of the United States, birling contests are annual events. Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 16 Feb. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for birl
Verb
  • Food and drink Amada was a standout.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • The new ranch comes with a coffee-drinking porch (mandatory), but it is weathered, rustic and needs work.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Bethany takes the explosive event as a sign to reunite with her old girlfriend Nel (Lena Góra), and carouse across lofts, clubs, and back alleys, leaving her erstwhile partner stranded.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Others blame social media for hindering crew members from socializing—and carousing—together.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The pair sequester themselves in a shed while guests revel outside in the sunshine.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Nebraska fans with seats around the tunnel spotted them, because thousands of Nebraska fans were still in their seats, reveling, the music still thumping in the arena, as if some kind of encore would be happening.
    Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The season finale lands on Saturday, and there's still time to binge the rest of the episodes before then.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
  • Arroyo spent the weekend binging for the Louisville Bats, going 11-for-19 with three homers and nine RBIs.
    Andy Behrens, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • One of his sons, Thomas (Dean-Charles Chapman), though hardly old enough to be in long pants, wears shining armor, while the other son, Hal (Timothée Chalamet), is a slouch who wastes his life in roistering.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2019
Verb
  • Some speculate that wassailing predates Christianity in the region; others note its association with the Christian holiday of Twelfth Night.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 24 Dec. 2025
  • In addition to the live music in Caldwell Hall, there's also an opportunity to join an English tradition: wassailing around the apple tree, a ritual to inspire a bountiful harvest in the year ahead.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 19 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Birl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/birl. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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