avenue

American  

[av-uh-nyoo, -noo] / ˈæv əˌnju, -ˌnu /

noun

• avenues
  plural

1. a wide street or main thoroughfare.

2. a means of access or attainment.

   avenues of escape; avenues to greater power.

3. a way or means of entering into or approaching a place.

   the various avenues to India.

4. Chiefly British.

   1. a wide, usually tree-lined road, path, driveway, etc., through grounds to a country house or monumental building.

   2. a suburban, usually tree-lined residential street.

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avenue British  

/ ˈævɪˌnjuː /

noun

1. 1. a broad street, often lined with trees

   2. (capital as part of a street name) a road, esp in a built-up area

      Shaftesbury Avenue

2. a main approach road, as to a country house

3. a way bordered by two rows of trees

   an avenue of oaks

4. a line of approach

   explore every avenue

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Synonym Usage

See street.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• avenues
  plural

Etymology

Origin of avenue

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French, literally, “approach,” noun use of feminine past participle of avenir, from Latin advenīre “to come to.” See a- ⁵, venue

Explanation

An avenue is a street, especially a wide one lined with trees. An avenue is also any approach to doing something. For example, this web site might be a new avenue you have found for learning words. The word avenue comes from the French avenir, meaning "to come to, or arrive." The first meaning is simply a wide street. An avenue — or boulevard — is likely to be busy, unlike a quiet side street. The abbreviation is ave., as in Park Ave. Also, an avenue is a way to accomplish something. If you need money but can't get a loan, you'll have to find another avenue.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

avenue avenues

Now Olympic hopefuls have another avenue to join the 2024 medallist at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

For Waldner, the study has provided another treatment avenue while doctors continue monitoring his cancer.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026

Jumping down from her uncle's shoulders, seven-year-old Dona ran grinning to her mother after Pope Leo XIV waved at her on his way past on a famed Paris avenue.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

“We see Semi as an underappreciated avenue for Tesla to expand its autonomy capabilities, with impressive unit economics that support a strong demand outlook,” Percoco said in a note to clients on Friday.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

Sierra ducked into the alley alongside Club Kalfour, came out on a large avenue and sprinted across it, turned a corner, and ran as hard as she could.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

Conversation flowed freely with their fellow Tigrayans in the TPF, who had taken up positions on the avenues and several key sites, including the northern region's presidency building and the police headquarters.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

Residents living near Wheeler and Bonita avenues were ordered to evacuate, while shelter-in-place orders were issued at Grace Miller Elementary and Bonita High schools, according to the La Verne Police Department.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

“But whether or not that happens, it definitely seems there are other avenues that we can continue to grow and proceed in.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

"Uncovering this localized immune niche changes how we view neuroimmune interactions and opens exciting new avenues for treating brain tumors and other neurological diseases."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

It’s some kind of shortcut, though, because after walking through a manicured garden, we come out of another gate onto a small back street that connects two main avenues.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• boulevard
• channel
• entrance
• outlet
• pathway
• promenade
• road
• route
• thoroughfare