alleyway

[ al-ee-wey ]

noun

1. an alley or lane.
2. a narrow passageway.

alleyway

/ ˈælɪˌweɪ /

noun

1. a narrow passage; alley

Word History and Origins

Origin of alleyway¹

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90; alley ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

If you get one more ride per day because you move the scooter 50 meters or 100 meters, maybe out of the alleyway, maybe from the departure side of the Metro station to the arrival side of the Metro station, that’s a huge win for a shared operator.

From Washington Post

With an accurate map of Rocinha, the city could more easily provide access to public services such as water and waste collection, improve alleyways, and create plazas and public places.

From MIT Technology Review

Green started running up East Avenue, before turning left into an alleyway past the town library that took him to Railroad Avenue, where he collapsed in front of an abandoned Timberline store.

From Washington Post

“Meander through the alleyways and laneways, and you can find these beautiful moments that feel like they’re just for the locals,” Lee says.

From Washington Post

In 2015, Nehad was confronted by a police officer, Neal Browder, in an alleyway in the Midway district.

From Voice of San Diego

“This is a very typical street of the times,” Erik says, as we look at the bones of a few other past-bordellos in the alleyway.

From The Daily Beast

After sneaking through a tunnel, the mark emerges in an alleyway.

From The Daily Beast

When the fourth shell comes down, nervous onlookers usher us across the street into another alleyway.

From The Daily Beast

As they began to chase him down an alleyway, Diaz ran toward the front of an apartment building.

From The Daily Beast

Moments later, police caught up with two teens about two blocks away in a Pasadena alleyway.

From The Daily Beast

Like a hurt animal, half crawling, knowing only the base instinct of self preservation, he tried for that delivery alleyway.

From Project Gutenberg

Two bedsteads, with a narrow alleyway between, occupied half the interior.

From Project Gutenberg

The street Tom followed was lined with tall tenements and ended in little more than an alleyway.

From Project Gutenberg

As he reached the second landing of the escape he saw Merrick turn the corner of the alleyway and disappear on the street beyond.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the youth got down on his hands and knees and looked over the edge of the tenement, on the alleyway side.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Alleyway

What is an alleyway?

An alleyway is a narrow passage between buildings or other structures.

Alleyway 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.

The word alley means the same thing.

Example: We took a shortcut through the narrow alleyway between the shops.

Where does alleyway come from?

The first records of the word alleyway come from the late 1700s. The word alley is first recorded much earlier, in the 1300s, and comes from the Middle French alee, meaning “walk” or “passage,” from verb aler, “to walk.” The word way is used in the same way in similar compound words that refer to a lane or passage, including passageway, walkway, and pathway, all of which can be used as synonyms for alleyway in some cases.

However, while passageway and walkway can refer to indoor passages, alleyway typically refers to one that’s outside. In big cities, alleyways between buildings are often very narrow—wide enough to walk down but not drive. These kinds of alleyways are often depicted as dark, dangerous, or mysterious places—places where dangerous people might be lurking. In reality, they’re usually just places where businesses deposit their garbage in dumpsters.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for alleyway?

• alley
• lane
• passage
• passageway
• pathway
• walk
• walkway

What are some words that share a root or word element with alleyway? 

• passageway
• pathway
• walkway

What are some words that often get used in discussing alleyway?

• narrow
• long
• dark
• back
• street

How is alleyway used in real life?

Alleyway is most commonly used to refer to the narrow passage between buildings or to the lane behind a row of houses.

hello look at how much progress i’ve made on my little back alleyway over the past few weeks pic.twitter.com/8CkdSrk5jE

— shield volcano fan account (@kingratbaby) May 23, 2020

Before and after! A recently completed alleyway refurbishment in Kensington #AlleywayRefurb #LiverpoolAlleyways #Alleyways #Transformation pic.twitter.com/5MmuSem72e

— Liverpool Alleyway Programme (@LiverpoolAlley1) November 26, 2020

Vivid shades of purple, yellow, and blue weave a stunning tapestry of murals hidden in an alleyway behind a small strip of shops in Lemon Grove. https://t.co/WKscLg63u0

— Atlas Obscura (@atlasobscura) August 14, 2020

 

Try using alleyway!

Is alleyway used correctly in the following sentence? 

Please pull the car around back and park in the alleyway.