way
1manner, mode, or fashion: a new way of looking at a matter; to reply in a polite way.
characteristic or habitual manner: Her way is to work quietly and never complain.
a method, plan, or means for attaining a goal: to find a way to reduce costs.
a respect or particular: The plan is defective in several ways.
a direction or vicinity: Look this way. We're having a drought out our way.
passage or progress on a course: to make one's way on foot; to lead the way.
a path or course leading from one place to another: What's the shortest way to town?
British.
an old Roman or pre-Roman road: Icknield Way.
a minor street in a town: He lives in Stepney Way.
a road, route, passage, or channel (usually used in combination): highway; waterway; doorway.
Law. a right of way.
any line of passage or travel, used or available: to blaze a way through dense woods.
space for passing or advancing: to clear a way through the crowd.
Often ways . a habit or custom: The grandmother lived by the ways of the old country.
course or mode of procedure that one chooses or wills: They had to do it my way.
condition, as to health, prosperity, or the like: to be in a bad way.
range or extent of experience or notice: the best device that ever came in my way.
a course of life, action, or experience: The way of transgressors is hard.
Informal. business: to be in the haberdashery way.
Nautical.
ways, two or more ground ways down which a hull slides in being launched.
movement or passage through the water.
Machinery. a longitudinal strip, as in a planer, guiding a moving part along a surface.
Idioms about way
by the way, in the course of one's remarks; incidentally: By the way, have you received that letter yet?
by way of,
by the route of; through; via.
as a method or means of: to number articles by way of distinguishing them.
British. in the state or position of (being, doing, etc.); ostensibly: He is by way of being an authority on the subject.
come one's way, to come to one; befall one: A bit of good fortune came my way.
give way,
to withdraw or retreat: The army gave way before the advance of the enemy.
to collapse; yield; break down: You will surely give way under the strain of overwork.
give way to,
to yield to: He gave way to their entreaties.
to become unrestrained or uninhibited; lose control of (one's temper, emotions, etc.): I gave way to my rage and ordered them from the house.
go all the way, Slang.
to do completely or wholeheartedly.
to take a decisive action, especially one from which no retreat is possible: Neither side wants to go all the way with nuclear warfare.
to engage in sexual intercourse.
go out of one's way, to do something that inconveniences one; make an unusual effort: Please don't go out of your way on my account.
have a way with, to have a charming, persuasive, or effective manner of dealing with: He has a way with children; to have a way with words.
have one's way with, (especially of a man) to have sexual intercourse with, sometimes by intimidating or forcing one's partner.
in a family way, pregnant.
in a way, after a fashion; to some extent: In a way, she's the nicest person I know.
in someone's way, forming a hindrance, impediment, or obstruction: She might have succeeded in her ambition, had not circumstances been in her way.: Also in the way .
lead the way,
to go along a course in advance of others, as a guide.
to take the initiative; be first or most prominent: In fashion she has always led the way.
make one's way,
to go forward; proceed: to make one's way through the mud.
to achieve recognition or success; advance: to make one's way in the world.
make way,
to allow to pass; clear the way: Make way for the king!
to relinquish to another; withdraw: He resigned to make way for a younger man.
Nautical. to make forward or astern progress even though engines are not running.
no way, Informal. not under any circumstances; no: Apologize to him? No way!
out of the way,
in a state or condition so as not to obstruct or hinder.
dealt with; disposed of: I feel better, now that one problem is out of the way.
murdered: to have a person put out of the way.
out of the frequented way; at a distance from the usual route.
improper; amiss: There was something decidedly out of the way about her explanation.
extraordinary; unusual: Such behavior was out of the way for him.
pave the way to / for. pave (def. 3).
see one's way clear, to regard as suitable or possible; consider seriously: We couldn't see our way clear to spending so much money at once.: Also see one's way .
take one's way, to start out; travel; go: He took his way across the park and headed uptown.
Origin of way
1synonym study For way
Other words for way
Other words from way
- wayless, adjective
Words that may be confused with way
- way , weigh
Other definitions for way (2 of 2)
Also 'way . away; from this or that place: Go way.
to a great degree or at quite a distance; far: way too heavy; way down the road.
Origin of way
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use way in a sentence
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 | THE DAILY BEASTI 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 | THE DAILY BEASTEmpire 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 | THE DAILY BEASTI think if you keep trying to do things the same way it becomes diminishing returns.
Professor Penelope Leach told The Daily Beast it was ludicrous to monitor young children in that way.
Britain May Spy on Preschoolers Searching for Potential Jihadis | Nico Hines | January 7, 2015 | THE 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 WillsIn 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 BastinYou 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 SabatiniShe 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 way
/ (weɪ) /
a manner, method, or means: a way of life; a way of knowing
a route or direction: the way home
a means or line of passage, such as a path or track
(in combination): waterway
space or room for movement or activity (esp in the phrases make way, in the way, out of the way)
distance, usually distance in general: you've come a long way
a passage or journey: on the way
characteristic style or manner: I did it in my own way
(often plural) habits; idiosyncrasies: he has some offensive ways
an aspect of something; particular: in many ways he was right
a street in or leading out of a town
(capital when part of a street name): Icknield Way
something that one wants in a determined manner (esp in the phrases get or have one's (own) way)
the experience or sphere in which one comes into contact with things (esp in the phrase come one's way)
informal a state or condition, usually financial or concerning health (esp in the phrases in a good (or bad) way)
informal the area or direction of one's home: drop in if you're ever over my way
movement of a ship or other vessel
a right of way in law
a guide along which something can be moved, such as the surface of a lathe along which the tailstock slides
(plural) the wooden or metal tracks down which a ship slides to be launched
a course of life including experiences, conduct, etc: the way of sin
archaic calling or trade
by the way (sentence modifier) in passing or incidentally
by way of
via
serving as: by way of introduction
in the state or condition of: by way of being an artist
each way (of a bet) laid on a horse, dog, etc, to win or gain a place
give way
to collapse or break down
to withdraw or yield
give way to
to step aside for or stop for
to give full rein to (emotions, etc)
go out of one's way to take considerable trouble or inconvenience oneself
have a way with to have such a manner or skill as to handle successfully
have it both ways to enjoy two things that would normally contradict each other or be mutually exclusive
in a way in some respects
in no way not at all
lead the way
to go first
to set an example or precedent
make one's way
to proceed or advance
to achieve success in life
no way informal that is impossible
on the way out informal
becoming unfashionable, obsolete, etc
dying
out of the way
removed or dealt with so as to be no longer a hindrance
remote
unusual and sometimes improper
pay one's way See pay 1 (def. 11)
see one's way or see one's way clear to find it possible and be willing (to do something)
the way Irish so that: I left early the way I would avoid the traffic
under way having started moving or making progress
informal
at a considerable distance or extent: way over yonder
very far: they're way up the mountain
informal by far; considerably: way better
slang truly; genuinely: they have a way cool site
Origin of way
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with way
In addition to the idioms beginning with way
- way the wind blows, which
- way to go
also see:
- all the way
- by the way
- by way of
- can't punch one's way out of a paper bag
- come a long way
- come one's way
- cut both ways
- downhill all the way
- every which way
- feel one's way
- find one's way
- from way back
- get one's way
- give way
- go all the way
- go a long way toward
- go one's way
- go out of one's way
- go the way of all flesh
- hard way
- have a way with
- have it both ways
- have one's way with
- in a bad way
- in a big way
- in a way
- in one's way
- in the family way
- in the way
- in the worst way
- know all the answers (one's way around)
- laugh all the way to the bank
- lead the way
- look the other way
- make one's way
- make way
- mend one's ways
- more than one way to skin a cat
- not built that way
- no two ways about it
- no way
- one way or another
- on one's way
- on the way
- on the way out
- other way round
- out of the way
- parting of the ways
- pave the way
- pay one's way
- pick one's way
- put in the way of
- right of way
- rub the wrong way
- see one's way to
- set in one's ways
- show the way
- take the wrong way
- that's how (the way) the ball bounces
- under way
- wend one's way
- work one's way
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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