alley

¹ American  

[al-ee] / ˈæl i /

noun

• alleys
  plural

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.

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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.

alley ² American  

[al-ee] / ˈæl i /

noun

Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

• alleys
  plural

1. a choice, large playing marble.

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alley ¹ British  

/ 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

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alley ² British  

/ ˈælɪ /

noun

1. a large playing marble

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alley More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing alley

• blind alley
• right up one's alley

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Usage

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.

Synonym Usage

See street.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• alleys
  plural

Etymology

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”; see also amble

Origin of alley²

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

Explanation

An alley is a narrow street with walls or buildings on both sides, like the dark alley everyone warns you not to walk down alone. Alley comes from the Old French word alee, meaning "a path, passage, way, corridor," which itself likely comes from the Latin word ambulare "to walk." That sums up what an alley is — a street that is usually too narrow for cars, though it is easy to walk there. However, alleys are often associated with danger and crime because they don't have much light shining in them, and it is easy for shady characters to hide.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alley alleys

When old wiring recently caused an electrical fire in the alley outside the hospital, a blackout cut power to X-ray, ultrasound and ventilator equipment, she said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026

He said Jimenez was driving and pulled into the alley that led to the parking lot of their apartment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Their most pointed objection is to the proposed entrance, a rear alley used by residents to reach their gardens and by The Crown pub for deliveries.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Like a neighborhood bar or a bowling alley, the internet was a place you could reliably go to have fun and occasionally learn something from semi-strangers who shared your interests.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

In a little while, he returned to his alley stable where he had left his rented horse, a bay mare.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Over the past two years, he has driven hundreds of miles crisscrossing the region, through back alleys and along highways to tally the condition of poles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

"I know all the roads and streets very well… we had all the information we needed about Kabul and its alleys," he says.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Their shops down narrow alleys sit dark behind faded signs advertising "traditional fortune-telling houses".

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

He also brought streetlights and paved alleys to his district, installing them throughout South L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026

Those were the words whispered on the streets of Ketterdam, in the taverns and coffeehouses, in the dark and bleeding alleys of the pleasure district known as the Barrel.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo