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• out-of-the-way
  out-of-the-way

  adjective

  remote from much-traveled, frequented, or populous regions; secluded.
• out of the way
  out of the way

  Not obstructing, hindering, or interfering, as in This chair is out of the way now, so you won't trip . This phrase also appears in get out of the (or one's) way , as in Would you please get your coat out of the way? or Get your car out of my way . [Mid-1500s]

out-of-the-way

American  

[out-uhv-thuh-wey] / ˈaʊt əv ðəˌweɪ /

adjective

1. remote from much-traveled, frequented, or populous regions; secluded.

   an out-of-the-way inn up in the hills.

2. seldom encountered; unusual.

   out-of-the-way information.

3. giving offense; improper.

   an out-of-the-way remark.

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out-of-the-way British  

adjective

1. distant from more populous areas

2. uncommon or unusual

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out of the way Idioms  

1. Not obstructing, hindering, or interfering, as in This chair is out of the way now, so you won't trip . This phrase also appears in get out of the (or one's) way , as in Would you please get your coat out of the way? or Get your car out of my way . [Mid-1500s]

2. Taken care of, disposed of, as in I'm glad we got these details out of the way .

3. In a remote location, as in This restaurant is a little out of the way . [Mid-1300s]

4. Unusual, remarkable, as in It was out of the way for him to praise his staff . [Second half of 1500s]

5. Amiss, in error, improper, as in The security guard checked all the locks and saw nothing out of the way . [Early 1200s] Also see go out of one's way .

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Etymology

Origin of out-of-the-way

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out-of-the-way out of the way

A piece of Fern’s called out societal expectations that a woman “unobtrusively gather up her thimble and, retiring into some out-of-the-way place, gradually scoop out her coffin with it.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026

Without Ticketmaster’s support, band members had to work out all the touring details themselves as they went to out-of-the-way venues that weren’t used to hosting rock concerts.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2024

Setting aside some out-of-the-way spaces for ground-nesting bees allows everyone to coexist more happily.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 1, 2024

He did say the campaign’s strategy of directing surrogates like Mr. Newsom and Mr. Landrieu to out-of-the-way rural towns was an effort to increase turnout in counties that often underperform in the state’s elections.

From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2024

He started going out the back door, wearing sunglasses, meeting Deborah in out-of-the-way places, and sliding down the hallways in school.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen

He’s willing to place intriguing romantic possibilities in Wendy’s path that she obliviously kicks out of the way, making the point that love is capricious.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

But in the context of the question, it's worth pointing out that they actually did ask Leclerc to move out of the way to optimise Hamilton's race in Zandvoort.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

It says Starlink satellites will move out of the way when the chance of a collision exceeds three out of 10 million.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

"It's a narrow path, you don't really have any room to get out of the way, and then all of a sudden there was a rush of movement behind," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Her hair spilled over her shoulders, which was unusual; she usually wore it in a ponytail because it was easier to work with it out of the way.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly