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Synonyms

road

American  
[rohd] / roʊd /

noun

  1. a long, narrow stretch with a smoothed or paved surface, made for traveling by motor vehicle, carriage, etc., between two or more points; street or highway.

  2. a way or course.

    the road to peace.

  3. a railroad.

  4. Also called roadstead.  Nautical. Often roads a partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor.

  5. Mining. any tunnel in a mine used for hauling.

  6. the road, the places, usually outside of New York City, at which theatrical companies on tour generally give performances.

idioms

  1. on the road,

    1. traveling, especially as a sales representative.

    2. on tour, as a theatrical company.

      The musical ends its New York run next week to go on the road.

    3. started; under way.

      We need funds to get the project on the road.

  2. take to the road, to begin a journey or tour. Also take the road.

  3. take the high road. take the high road.

  4. hit the road, to begin or resume traveling.

    We hit the road before sunrise.

  5. down the road, in the future.

    Economists see higher interest rates down the road.

  6. one for the road, a final alcoholic drink taken just before departing from a party, tavern, or the like.

  7. burn up the road, to drive or move very fast.

road British  
/ rəʊd /

noun

    1. an open way, usually surfaced with asphalt or concrete, providing passage from one place to another

    2. ( as modifier )

      road traffic

      a road map

      a road sign

    3. ( in combination )

      the roadside

    1. a street

    2. ( capital when part of a name )

      London Road

    1. short for railroad

    2. one of the tracks of a railway

  4. a way, path, or course

    the road to fame

  5. Also called: roadstead.  (often plural) nautical a partly sheltered anchorage

  6. a drift or tunnel in a mine, esp a level one

  7. slang to start or resume travelling

    1. travelling, esp as a salesman

    2. (of a theatre company, pop group, etc) on tour

    3. leading a wandering life

  9. to begin a journey or tour

  10. informal a last alcoholic drink before leaving

"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
road More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing road

Other Word Forms

  • interroad adjective
  • roadless adjective
  • roadlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of road

First recorded before 900; Middle English rode, earlier rade, Old English rād “a riding, journey on horseback,” akin to rīdan “to ride ”

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.

In addition to infrastructure investments in the surrounding roads, the Bears are at risk if they do not know their tax bill.

From The Wall Street Journal

The CEO, a Nike veteran who came out of retirement to take the top job in October 2024, has called China “the longest road ahead” in the company’s efforts to revive growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Local police said initial findings suggested a "system malfunction" caused multiple vehicles to stop in the middle of the road on Tuesday.

From BBC

The extra cents you pay at the pump are used to fund roads and other transportation infrastructure, making them a perfect example of user-pays excise taxes.

From MarketWatch

Customers had a hard time getting to showrooms in January because of frozen conditions on the roads.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.