To fall over suddenly, either of a boat capsizing or a person collapsing.
To suddenly fall over or tip sideways, like when someone faints.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
(Of a person) to suddenly fall over, especially by fainting or collapsing from illness, exhaustion, or shock.
"It was so hot at the outdoor concert that two people keeled over and had to be helped off the field."
(Of a boat or ship) to turn sideways and capsize.
"The small sailing boat keeled over in the sudden gust of wind."
(Informal, sometimes humorous) To die suddenly.
"He ate so much at dinner that he joked he was about to keel over."
For a boat to roll onto its side so that the keel (bottom) faces outward.
To suddenly fall over or tip sideways, like when someone faints.
Originally a nautical term — a keel is the bottom of a boat, and 'keeling over' means the boat has turned onto its side. In everyday speech it most commonly describes a person fainting or collapsing suddenly. Can also be used humorously.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
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