mile

American  

[mahyl] / maɪl /

noun

• miles
  plural

1. Also called statute mile.  a unit of distance on land in English-speaking countries equal to 5,280 feet, or 1,760 yards (1.609 kilometers).

2. nautical mile.

3. international nautical mile.

4. any of various other units of distance or length at different periods and in different countries.

5. a notable distance or margin: mi, mi.

   missed the target by a mile.

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mile British  

/ maɪl /

noun

1. Also called: statute mile.  a unit of length used in the UK, the US, and certain other countries, equal to 1760 yards. 1 mile is equivalent to 1.609 34 kilometres

2. See nautical mile

3. See Swedish mile

4. any of various units of length used at different times and places, esp the Roman mile, equivalent to 1620 yards

5. informal (often plural) a great distance; great deal

   he missed by a mile

6. a race extending over a mile

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adverb

1. (intensifier)

   he likes his new job miles better

mile Scientific  

/ mīl /

1. A unit of length in the US Customary System, equal to 5,280 feet or 1,760 yards (about 1.61 kilometers).

2. Also called statute mile

3. See nautical mile See Table at measurement

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mile Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing mile

• miss by a mile
• miss is as good as a mile
• stick out (like a mile)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• miles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mile

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English mīl, from Latin mīlle (passus); mīlle, mīlia (passuum) “a thousand (paces), thousands of paces”

Explanation

A mile is a unit for measuring distance. There are 1,760 yards in a mile, which is the same as 5,280 feet or 63,360 inches. If you're exhausted in the morning, your mile-long walk to school might feel much longer. In the U.S. and the U.K., the mile is the standard unit for measuring roads and highways, while most other countries use the kilometer instead. You might hear people talk about how many miles per gallon their cars can go, or how many miles per hour they're allowed to drive. Informally, the word miles also means "a long way," or "a lot," so you might describe a crowd stretching for miles. The Latin root, milia, means "thousands."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mile miles

Tesla is targeting a cost per mile of less than 30 cents for the Cybercab, less than that of domestic rivals.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

The White Sox are swinging nearly a full mile per hour faster this season, or just shy of the MLB average of 72.1 mph.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Less than a mile from the tracks, a “sale pending” sign sat in Dana Kyker’s yard.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

"You saw that with that performance. He was the best player on the pitch by a mile and that's what he does. It's good to have him on our side."

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

When the grown-ups go for walks in the neighborhood, the loop they take around the block measures exactly a half mile.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

With the Finnish border, and any hope of safety, more than a thousand miles away, he wants to keep Troy away from Red Army forces that are undoubtedly searching for him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Spanish Maritime Rescue teams located the vessel some 65 nautical miles southwest of Gran Canaria's coastal town of Arguineguín on Wednesday and found 44 survivors, with five dead bodies also on board.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

The Miyako Strait to the south, for instance, is more than 150 miles across.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

The eastern end of the piece was only eight miles from Santa Rosa, and local interest in the history of “Running Fence” endures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Sailing a hundred miles with the wind might take twelve or fourteen hours, depending on wind strength, boat, and sailor.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen