alley

[ al-ee ]

See synonyms for alley on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural al·leys.

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

a walk, as in a garden, enclosed with hedges or shrubbery.
Bowling.
- a long, narrow, wooden lane or floor along which the ball is rolled.
- (often plural) a building for bowling.
- bowling green.
Tennis. the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline.
Rare. an aisle.

Idioms about alley

up / down one's alley, Informal. in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes: If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley.

Origin of alley

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”; see also amble

synonym study For alley

2. See street.

Words Nearby alley

Other definitions for alley (2 of 2)

alley²

[ al-ee ]

noun,plural al·leys.Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

a choice, large playing marble.

Origin of alley

First recorded in 1710–20; probably al(abaster) + -y², spelling to conform with alley¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alley in a sentence

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince — “A Nightmare On My Street”For those VHS horror movie lovers, this one is right up your alley.
Trick Or Treat: An All Hallows’ Eve Playlist For You Guys And Ghouls | cmurray | October 30, 2020 | Essence.com
Once the vehicle is in the alley, the emergency lights go off again, but the cruiser keeps going, and Hylton is struck a few seconds laterwhen he darts out onto Kennedy Street between parked vehicles.
Police video shows fatal crash as D.C. officers attempt to stop moped driver | Peter Hermann, Justin Jouvenal, Julie Zauzmer | October 30, 2020 | Washington Post
They said he drove out of an alley and collided with another vehicle.
Protesters demonstrate outside D.C. police station for second night after Karon Hylton’s death | Clarence Williams, Samantha Schmidt, Tom Jackman | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post
Hylton died when he collided with a vehicle after pulling out of an alley, police said.
Police may have pursued moped before fatal crash, officials say | Peter Hermann, Justin Jouvenal, Clarence Williams | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post
During one of our first walks, we came across an alley that we’d never noticed before.
11 Great Microadventures You Can Do Now | The Editors | October 1, 2020 | Outside Online

The picture you took of the boy lying in the alley also seemed to strike a chord.
The Photojournalist Who Stared Down Ebola | Abby Haglage | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The meeting place of human rights and criminal justice in Iran is like a dark and frightening alley.
Forget About a Kindler Gentler Iran | Nina Strochlic | August 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The alley cat and her kittens would have mugged him already.
Up To a Point: Robber Barons Make Way For Robber Nerds | P. J. O’Rourke | August 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He said his cousin had been found dead in an alley and he had to rush home.
The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters | Alex Belth | August 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It had rained while we were inside and the air in the alley smelled almost fresh.
Stanley Booth on the Life and Hard Times of Blues Genius Furry Lewis | Stanley Booth | June 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Truly it was a most enjoyable season and experience, but there is no joy without its alley here below—not even at the North Pole!
The Giant of the North | R.M. Ballantyne
He turned into an alley, down which, nautically speaking, he rolled into a shabby little court.
The Garret and the Garden | R.M. Ballantyne
I turned right into a narrow street, went along it about fifty yards, and paused where it was crossed by a still narrower alley.
Fee of the Frontier | Horace Brown Fyfe
From the set of his shoulders, it seemed that he might be just as glad the alley was dim; but he simply trailed along behind.
Fee of the Frontier | Horace Brown Fyfe
I cannot put my own case to the Admiralty although the machines are wanted for overland tactics—a fatal blind alley.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for alley (1 of 2)

alley¹

/ (ˈælɪ) /

noun

a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings
See bowling alley

tennis, mainly US the space between the singles and doubles sidelines
a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes
up one's alley or down one's alley See street (def. 10)

Origin of alley

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

British Dictionary definitions for alley (2 of 2)

alley²

/ (ˈælɪ) /

noun

a large playing marble

Origin of alley

C18: shortened and changed from alabaster

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with alley

alley

In addition to the idiom beginning with alley

alley cat

also see:

blind alley
right up one's alley

Browse