alley

¹

[al-ee]

noun

plural

alleys 

1. a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc.

2. a narrow back street.

3. a walk, as in a garden, enclosed with hedges or shrubbery.

4. Bowling.

   1. a long, narrow, wooden lane or floor along which the ball is rolled.

   2. (often plural),  a building for bowling.

   3. bowling green.

5. Tennis.,  the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline.

6. Rare.,  an aisle.

alley

²

[al-ee]

noun

Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

plural

alleys 

1. a choice, large playing marble.

alley

¹

/ ˈælɪ /

noun

1. a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings

2. See bowling alley

3. tennis the space between the singles and doubles sidelines

4. a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes

5. See street

alley

²

/ ˈælɪ /

noun

1. a large playing marble

Word History and Origins

Origin of alley¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English al(e)y, from Middle French alee “walk, passage,” noun use of feminine of ale, past participle of aler “to walk,” probably from unattested Vulgar Latin allārī, from allātus, past participle of afferre “to bring”; amble

Origin of alley²

First recorded in 1710–20; probably al(abaster) + -y ², spelling to conform with alley ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of alley¹

C14: from Old French alee, from aler to go, ultimately from Latin ambulāre to walk

Origin of alley²

C18: shortened and changed from _alabaster

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. up / down one's alley, in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes.

   If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley.

More idioms and phrases containing alley

• blind alley
• right up one's alley

Synonym Study

See street.

Example Sentences

“We can play a defensive game if we have to. And I think we can play a back alley game, too.”

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Indiana resident Perry Tole suffered a laceration on his left cheek during an incident that occurred late Friday night and into early Saturday in an alley outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel.

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Mears added that it’s possible that more charges could come connected to the incident that occurred late Friday night and into early Saturday morning in an alley outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel.

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The following month, a gray pickup pulled into an alley that ran behind Harutyunyan’s house in North Hills.

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“She got love everywhere — it don’t matter. It can be in an alley… or Alaska; they gon’ love her.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What is an alley?

An alley is a narrow passage between buildings or other structures. The word alleyway means the same thing.Alley can also refer to a narrow path or passage behind a row of houses, such as one that allows access to garages and back yards.An alley can also be a narrow street or lane—the word alley might even be used in the name of such a street, as in Elfreth’s Alley. All of these senses of alley refer to passages that are outside—you wouldn’t normally call a narrow passage an alley if it is indoors.The term bowling alley refers to a building with lanes for bowling—which can also be called alleys.The proper plural of alley is alleys.Example: We took a shortcut through the narrow alley between the shops.