permanent way

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noun British.

the roadbed and track of a railroad.

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of permanent way

First recorded in 1830–40

Words nearby permanent way

permanent press, permanent resident, permanent set, permanent tooth, permanent wave, permanent way, permanganate, permanganic, permanganic acid, perma-press, perma-tan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use permanent way in a sentence

It’s clear that the pandemic has changed dining as we know it, sometimes in potentially permanent ways.
Merriam-Webster nods to pandemic by adding ‘ghost kitchen’ and ‘curbside pickup’|Emily Heil|October 27, 2021|Washington Post
So to hopefully avoid creating new problems by saying this is the new permanent way we do things, we need to say, “Let’s try this and let’s see how this goes.”
How Does New York City Keep Reinventing Itself? (Bonus)|Kurt Andersen|March 21, 2021|Freakonomics
It was also an attack on our freedom of expression and way of life.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I remember H. Jon Benjamin told me it was a way-too-late apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Empire will be hate-watched and may set off some conversations on its way from fading from our minds.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist|Judnick Mayard|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The offices were firebombed in 2011; no one was hurt but a permanent police car was subsequently stationed outside.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I think if you keep trying to do things the same way it becomes diminishing returns.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is most peculiar, and when he plays that way, the most bewitching little expression comes over his face.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
"Capital, capital," his lordship would remark with great alacrity, when there was no other way of escape.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
In this way bundles of the plants are easily made, and in most cases these can be readily carried about.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
You would not think it too much to set the whole province in flames so that you could have your way with this wretched child.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
She looked so sweet when she said it, standing and smiling there in the middle of the floor, the door-way making a frame for her.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay

British Dictionary definitions for permanent way

permanent way

noun

mainly British the track of a railway, including the ballast, sleepers, rails, etc

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