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Synonyms

alleyway

American  
[al-ee-wey] / ˈæl iˌweɪ /

noun

  1. an alley or lane.

  2. a narrow passageway.


alleyway British  
/ ˈælɪˌweɪ /

noun

  1. a narrow passage; alley

"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

Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of alleyway

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

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.

Similarly, Longhurst told the court, he was "not sure" how his bike which he had pushed back to his mother's house ended up in an alleyway across the road.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

As he sprinted down an alleyway in April 2020, former Whittier Det.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025

The first-generation underground churches of a half-century ago met in houses and undisclosed alleyway rooms, gathering by word of mouth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

He said another volunteer had told him there was a "suspicious-looking man" who claimed to have been looking for a nearby pub before "disappearing" down the alleyway next to the building.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

Then the three of them ran like mad for the alleyway.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep

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