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• out-of-the-way
  out-of-the-way

  adjective

  remote from much-traveled, frequented, or populous regions; secluded.
• out of the way
  out of the way

  Not obstructing, hindering, or interfering, as in This chair is out of the way now, so you won't trip . This phrase also appears in get out of the (or one's) way , as in Would you please get your coat out of the way? or Get your car out of my way . [Mid-1500s]

out-of-the-way

American  

[out-uhv-thuh-wey] / ˈaʊt əv ðəˌweɪ /

adjective

1. remote from much-traveled, frequented, or populous regions; secluded.

   an out-of-the-way inn up in the hills.

2. seldom encountered; unusual.

   out-of-the-way information.

3. giving offense; improper.

   an out-of-the-way remark.

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out-of-the-way British  

adjective

1. distant from more populous areas

2. uncommon or unusual

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out of the way Idioms  

1. Not obstructing, hindering, or interfering, as in This chair is out of the way now, so you won't trip . This phrase also appears in get out of the (or one's) way , as in Would you please get your coat out of the way? or Get your car out of my way . [Mid-1500s]

2. Taken care of, disposed of, as in I'm glad we got these details out of the way .

3. In a remote location, as in This restaurant is a little out of the way . [Mid-1300s]

4. Unusual, remarkable, as in It was out of the way for him to praise his staff . [Second half of 1500s]

5. Amiss, in error, improper, as in The security guard checked all the locks and saw nothing out of the way . [Early 1200s] Also see go out of one's way .

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Etymology

Origin of out-of-the-way

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out-of-the-way out of the way

But Mr. Morby does just that, with a track that sets the scene for big feelings unfolding in out-of-the-way places.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026

Landlords preferred more conventional retailers in their malls, relegating dentists to out-of-the-way locations if they would lease space to them at all.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2025

Setting aside some out-of-the-way spaces for ground-nesting bees allows everyone to coexist more happily.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 1, 2024

He did say the campaign’s strategy of directing surrogates like Mr. Newsom and Mr. Landrieu to out-of-the-way rural towns was an effort to increase turnout in counties that often underperform in the state’s elections.

From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2024

I slip into a quiet, out-of-the-way bar in the lower floor of a brownstone just off of Seventh Avenue.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

But in the context of the question, it's worth pointing out that they actually did ask Leclerc to move out of the way to optimise Hamilton's race in Zandvoort.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

It says Starlink satellites will move out of the way when the chance of a collision exceeds three out of 10 million.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

McGregor’s dad even suggests driving through a herd of small stegosauruses, insisting with unmerited optimism that they’ll simply move out of the way.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

"I was diving in the Clyde and one of the instructors had to pull me out of the way of the tentacles as it was wafting above me," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

His horns came flying at the robot and she jumped out of the way just in time.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown