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expressway

American  
[ik-spres-wey] / ɪkˈsprɛsˌweɪ /

noun

  1. a highway especially planned for high-speed traffic, usually having few if any intersections, limited points of access or exit, and a divider between lanes for traffic moving in opposite directions.


expressway British  
/ ɪkˈsprɛsˌweɪ /

noun

  1. a motorway

"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

Etymology

Origin of expressway

First recorded in 1940–45; express + way 1

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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.

Joshua was discharged from hospital two days after the Lexus SUV crashed on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in south-west Nigeria.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Taking the Y4, an expressway still under construction, allows one to realise just "how much the city has eaten into the bush" that surrounds it, said Moustapha.

From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025

As L.A. officials assess the merits of a water taxi system designed to reduce car traffic at the 2028 Olympics, the Games’ organizers have set their sights on another expressway.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2025

Urban renewal czars also cleared out lively urban neighborhoods from Boston to Los Angeles, and no major city was untouched by the urban expressway craze.

From Slate • Sep. 16, 2024

Gerald liked to pretend he was driving a big, fine silver car down the expressway.

From "Forged by Fire" by Sharon M. Draper

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