way
1 Americannoun
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manner, mode, or fashion.
a new way of looking at a matter; to reply in a polite way.
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characteristic or habitual manner.
Her way is to work quietly and never complain.
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a method, plan, or means for attaining a goal.
to find a way to reduce costs.
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a respect or particular.
The plan is defective in several ways.
- Synonyms:
- detail
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a direction or vicinity.
Look this way. We're having a drought out our way.
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passage or progress on a course.
to make one's way on foot; to lead the way.
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Often distance.
They've come a long way.
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a path or course leading from one place to another.
What's the shortest way to town?
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British.
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an old Roman or pre-Roman road.
Icknield Way.
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a minor street in a town.
He lives in Stepney Way.
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a road, route, passage, or channel (usually used in combination).
highway; waterway; doorway.
- Synonyms:
- track
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Law. a right of way.
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any line of passage or travel, used or available.
to blaze a way through dense woods.
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space for passing or advancing.
to clear a way through the crowd.
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Often a habit or custom.
The grandmother lived by the ways of the old country.
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course or mode of procedure that one chooses or wills.
They had to do it my way.
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condition, as to health, prosperity, or the like.
to be in a bad way.
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range or extent of experience or notice.
the best device that ever came in my way.
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a course of life, action, or experience.
The way of transgressors is hard.
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Informal. business.
to be in the haberdashery way.
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Nautical.
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ways, two or more ground ways down which a hull slides in being launched.
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movement or passage through the water.
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Machinery. a longitudinal strip, as in a planer, guiding a moving part along a surface.
idioms
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give way to,
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to yield to.
He gave way to their entreaties.
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to become unrestrained or uninhibited; lose control of (one's temper, emotions, etc.).
I gave way to my rage and ordered them from the house.
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come one's way, to come to one; befall one.
A bit of good fortune came my way.
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give way,
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to withdraw or retreat.
The army gave way before the advance of the enemy.
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to collapse; yield; break down.
You will surely give way under the strain of overwork.
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by way of,
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by the route of; through; via.
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as a method or means of.
to number articles by way of distinguishing them.
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British. in the state or position of (being, doing, etc.); ostensibly.
He is by way of being an authority on the subject.
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take one's way, to start out; travel; go.
He took his way across the park and headed uptown.
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in someone's way, forming a hindrance, impediment, or obstruction: Also in the way
She might have succeeded in her ambition, had not circumstances been in her way.
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see one's way clear, to regard as suitable or possible; consider seriously: Also see one's way
We couldn't see our way clear to spending so much money at once.
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by the way, in the course of one's remarks; incidentally.
By the way, have you received that letter yet?
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lead the way,
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to go along a course in advance of others, as a guide.
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to take the initiative; be first or most prominent.
In fashion she has always led the way.
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in a family way, pregnant.
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make one's way,
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to go forward; proceed.
to make one's way through the mud.
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to achieve recognition or success; advance.
to make one's way in the world.
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go out of one's way, to do something that inconveniences one; make an unusual effort.
Please don't go out of your way on my account.
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have a way with, to have a charming, persuasive, or effective manner of dealing with.
He has a way with children; to have a way with words.
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go all the way,
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to do completely or wholeheartedly.
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to take a decisive action, especially one from which no retreat is possible.
Neither side wants to go all the way with nuclear warfare.
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to engage in sexual intercourse.
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pave the way to / for. pave.
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have one's way with, (especially of a man) to have sexual intercourse with, sometimes by intimidating or forcing one's partner.
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no way, not under any circumstances; no.
Apologize to him? No way!
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in a way, after a fashion; to some extent.
In a way, she's the nicest person I know.
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out of the way,
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in a state or condition so as not to obstruct or hinder.
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dealt with; disposed of.
I feel better, now that one problem is out of the way.
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murdered.
to have a person put out of the way.
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out of the frequented way; at a distance from the usual route.
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improper; amiss.
There was something decidedly out of the way about her explanation.
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extraordinary; unusual.
Such behavior was out of the way for him.
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make way,
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to allow to pass; clear the way.
Make way for the king!
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to relinquish to another; withdraw.
He resigned to make way for a younger man.
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Nautical. to make forward or astern progress even though engines are not running.
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adverb
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Also 'way away; from this or that place.
Go way.
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to a great degree or at quite a distance; far.
way too heavy; way down the road.
noun
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a manner, method, or means
a way of life
a way of knowing
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a route or direction
the way home
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a means or line of passage, such as a path or track
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( in combination )
waterway
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space or room for movement or activity (esp in the phrases make way, in the way, out of the way )
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distance, usually distance in general
you've come a long way
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a passage or journey
on the way
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characteristic style or manner
I did it in my own way
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(often plural) habits; idiosyncrasies
he has some offensive ways
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an aspect of something; particular
in many ways he was right
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a street in or leading out of a town
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( capital when part of a street name )
Icknield Way
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something that one wants in a determined manner (esp in the phrases get or have one's ( own ) way )
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the experience or sphere in which one comes into contact with things (esp in the phrase come one's way )
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informal a state or condition, usually financial or concerning health (esp in the phrases in a good ( or bad ) way )
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informal the area or direction of one's home
drop in if you're ever over my way
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movement of a ship or other vessel
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a right of way in law
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a guide along which something can be moved, such as the surface of a lathe along which the tailstock slides
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(plural) the wooden or metal tracks down which a ship slides to be launched
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a course of life including experiences, conduct, etc
the way of sin
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archaic calling or trade
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(sentence modifier) in passing or incidentally
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via
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serving as
by way of introduction
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in the state or condition of
by way of being an artist
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(of a bet) laid on a horse, dog, etc, to win or gain a place
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to collapse or break down
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to withdraw or yield
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to step aside for or stop for
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to give full rein to (emotions, etc)
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to take considerable trouble or inconvenience oneself
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to have such a manner or skill as to handle successfully
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to enjoy two things that would normally contradict each other or be mutually exclusive
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in some respects
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not at all
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to go first
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to set an example or precedent
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to proceed or advance
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to achieve success in life
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informal that is impossible
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informal
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becoming unfashionable, obsolete, etc
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dying
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removed or dealt with so as to be no longer a hindrance
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remote
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unusual and sometimes improper
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See pay 1
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to find it possible and be willing (to do something)
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so that
I left early the way I would avoid the traffic
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having started moving or making progress
adverb
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informal
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at a considerable distance or extent
way over yonder
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very far
they're way up the mountain
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informal by far; considerably
way better
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slang truly; genuinely
they have a way cool site
Related Words
See method.
Other Word Forms
- wayless adjective
Etymology
Origin of way1
First recorded before 900; Middle English wei, weie, wei(gh)e “road, thoroughfare, highway,” Old English weg; cognate with Old Frisian wei, wī, Dutch weg, German Weg, Old Norse vegr, Gothic wigs; akin to Latin vehere “to carry,” Greek ókhos (from wókhos ) “cart, vehicle”
Origin of way1
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English wei, wai, shortened variant of away
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I’m all the way in Florida and have never been anywhere near SoCal and even I know how legendary that venue is. RIP to a real one,” lamented another.
From Los Angeles Times
Cdr Dom Murphy, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said "anyone who advocates violence in this way can expect to be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law".
From BBC
My total ignorance of military maneuvers in no way detracts from my enjoyment and in some ways enhances it.
“The cheapest way to build your defense is to actually hit it with the best offense and refine it,” Mandia said.
Demolition of the more than 100-year-old area of the White House will make way for the ballroom project.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
