View synonyms for way

way

[ wey ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

manner, 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.
Synonyms: device, scheme
a respect or particular:
The plan is defective in several ways.
Synonyms: detail
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.
Often . distance:
They've come a long way.
Synonyms: interval, space
a path or course leading from one place to another:
What's the shortest way to town?
British.
1. an old Roman or pre-Roman road:
  Icknield Way.
2. a minor street in a town:
  He lives in Stepney Way.
a road, route, passage, or channel (usually used in combination):
highway; waterway; doorway.
Synonyms: track
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 . a habit or custom:
The grandmother lived by the ways of the old country.
Synonyms: wont, practice, usage
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.
1. ways, two or more ground ways down which a hull slides in being launched.
2. movement or passage through the water.
Machinery. a longitudinal strip, as in a planer, guiding a moving part along a surface.

way

[ wey ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

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.

way

/ weɪ /

noun

a manner, method, or means
a way of knowing
a way of life
a route or direction
the way home
1. a means or line of passage, such as a path or track
2. ( 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
1. a street in or leading out of a town
2. ( 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
by the way sentence modifier in passing or incidentally
by way of
by way of
1. via
2. serving as
  by way of introduction
3. in the state or condition of
  by way of being an artist
each way
each way (of a bet) laid on a horse, dog, etc, to win or gain a place
give way
give way
1. to collapse or break down
2. to withdraw or yield
give way to
give way to
1. to step aside for or stop for
2. to give full rein to (emotions, etc)
go out of one's way
go out of one's way to take considerable trouble or inconvenience oneself
have a way with
have a way with to have such a manner or skill as to handle successfully
have it both ways
have it both ways to enjoy two things that would normally contradict each other or be mutually exclusive
in a way
in a way in some respects
in no way
in no way not at all
lead the way
lead the way
1. to go first
2. to set an example or precedent
make one's way
make one's way
1. to proceed or advance
2. to achieve success in life
no way informal.
no way that is impossible
on the way out informal.
on the way out
1. becoming unfashionable, obsolete, etc
2. dying
out of the way
out of the way
1. removed or dealt with so as to be no longer a hindrance
2. remote
3. unusual and sometimes improper
See pay
pay one's way
pay one's way See pay 1
see one's way
see one's waysee one's way clear to find it possible and be willing (to do something)
the way
the way so that
I left early the way I would avoid the traffic
under way
under way having started moving or making progress

adverb

informal.
1. at a considerable distance or extent
  way over yonder
2. very far
  they're way up the mountain
informal.
by far; considerably
way better
slang.
truly; genuinely
they have a way cool site

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Other Words From

wayless adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of way¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English wei, weie, wei(gh)e “road, thoroughfare, highway,” Old English weg; cognate with Old Frisian wei, wī, Dutch weg, German Weg, Old Norse vegr, Gothic wigs; akin to Latin vehere “to carry,” Greek ókhos (from wókhos ) “cart, vehicle”

Origin of way²

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English wei, wai, shortened variant of away

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Word History and Origins

Origin of way¹

Old English weg; related to Old Frisian wei, Old Norse vegr, Gothic wigs

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

by the way, in the course of one's remarks; incidentally:
By the way, have you received that letter yet?
by way of,
1. by the route of; through; via.
2. as a method or means of:
  to number articles by way of distinguishing them.
3. 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,
1. to yield to:
  He gave way to their entreaties.
2. 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.
give way,
1. to withdraw or retreat:
  The army gave way before the advance of the enemy.
2. to collapse; yield; break down:
  You will surely give way under the strain of overwork.
go all the way, Slang.
1. to do completely or wholeheartedly.
2. to take a decisive action, especially one from which no retreat is possible:
  Neither side wants to go all the way with nuclear warfare.
3. 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: Also in the way.
She might have succeeded in her ambition, had not circumstances been in her way.
lead the way,
1. to go along a course in advance of others, as a guide.
2. to take the initiative; be first or most prominent:
  In fashion she has always led the way.
make one's way,
1. to go forward; proceed:
  to make one's way through the mud.
2. to achieve recognition or success; advance:
  to make one's way in the world.
make way,
1. to allow to pass; clear the way:
  Make way for the king!
2. to relinquish to another; withdraw:
  He resigned to make way for a younger man.
3. 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,
1. in a state or condition so as not to obstruct or hinder.
2. dealt with; disposed of:
  I feel better, now that one problem is out of the way.
3. murdered:
  to have a person put out of the way.
4. out of the frequented way; at a distance from the usual route.
5. improper; amiss:
  There was something decidedly out of the way about her explanation.
6. extraordinary; unusual:
  Such behavior was out of the way for him.
see one's way clear, to regard as suitable or possible; consider seriously: Also see one's way.
We couldn't see our way clear to spending so much money at once.
take one's way, to start out; travel; go:
He took his way across the park and headed uptown.
pave the way to / for. pave ( def 3 ).

More idioms and phrases containing way

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

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Synonym Study

See method.

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Example Sentences

Jozy Altidore is 31, and Josh Sargent, who turns 21 this month, is finding his way at Germany’s Werder Bremen.

From Washington Post

“In many ways, I don’t want to say I expected it, but I think from the league’s perspective or players’, I think we knew it wasn’t going to go perfectly,” defenseman John Carlson said.

From Washington Post

It’s changed me only in the way that it’s made me a better person.

From Washington Post

You just stay attached when you’re trying to find your way, and that’s why I was happy.

From Washington Post

Rapid advances in crash-detection technology, like in some Garmin computers and Specialized’s ANGI helmet sensor, might pave the way for crowdsourcing data from real-life crashes.

From Outside Online

It was also an attack on our freedom of expression and way of life.

From The Daily Beast

I remember H. Jon Benjamin told me it was a way-too-late apology for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

From The Daily Beast

Empire will be hate-watched and may set off some conversations on its way from fading from our minds.

From The Daily Beast

I think if you keep trying to do things the same way it becomes diminishing returns.

From The Daily Beast

Professor Penelope Leach told The Daily Beast it was ludicrous to monitor young children in that way.

From The Daily Beast

It is most peculiar, and when he plays that way, the most bewitching little expression comes over his face.

From Project Gutenberg

"Capital, capital," his lordship would remark with great alacrity, when there was no other way of escape.

From Project Gutenberg

In this way bundles of the plants are easily made, and in most cases these can be readily carried about.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

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