four-way

[ fawr-wey, fohr- ]

adjective

1. providing access or passage in four directions:

   a four-way entrance.

2. applying to all four directions of traffic at an intersection:

   a four-way stop sign.

3. exerting influence or benefit in four different ways:

   a four-way blessing.

4. made up of four participants:

   a four-way discussion.

four-way

adjective

1. giving passage in four directions
2. made up of four elements

Word History and Origins

Origin of four-way¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

In a bitter four-way primary, Boyle was attacked as both pro-life and anti-public education.

From The Daily Beast

In a four-way race with very credible candidates, a runoff is almost guaranteed, but what matters is which candidates participate.

From The Daily Beast

Anderson tells his tales with a great deal of surprisingly original material aided by his four-way narrative.

From The Daily Beast

Post-dictatorship Egypt now finds itself at a four-way crossroads.

From The Daily Beast

Many liberals were rooting for a Tea Party triumph in the four-way Wisconsin Republican Senate primary last Tuesday night.

From The Daily Beast

A four-way cock near the top of the cylinder turned the steam on and off.

From Project Gutenberg

The cylinder was let down into the boiler; it worked with a four-way cock.

From Project Gutenberg

The first pull of the chain turns on the gas through a four-way gas-cock, governed by a ratchet-wheel and pawl.

From Project Gutenberg

The conduits for telephone and telegraph service were four-way, and were located in the core-wall.

From Project Gutenberg

The easiest method of testing the Three- and Four-way circuits explained.

From Project Gutenberg