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way station

American  

noun

  1. a station intermediate between principal stations, as on a railroad.


Etymology

Origin of way station

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

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.

After Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in 2021, Camp As Sayliyah was meant to serve as a safe way station for Afghans who worked with the U.S. and applied to come to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

In the end of that book a couple of characters die and they are at this way station to figure out if they are going to go to heaven.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2024

“So this won’t be a new normal. This will be a way station on the way to ever more intense systems unless we choose to dramatically decrease emissions.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2023

Tunisia's lakes and coastal lagoons are parched and overheating, endangering a delicate ecosystem and disrupting the vast flocks of migrating birds that use the wetlands as a way station between Africa and Europe.

From Reuters • Aug. 15, 2023

What if we are each other’s in-between people, a way station on the road to someplace else?

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

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