way

¹

[ wey ]

noun

1. manner, mode, or fashion:

   a new way of looking at a matter; to reply in a polite way.

2. characteristic or habitual manner:

   Her way is to work quietly and never complain.

3. a method, plan, or means for attaining a goal:

   to find a way to reduce costs.

   Synonyms: device, scheme

4. a respect or particular:

   The plan is defective in several ways.

   Synonyms: detail

5. a direction or vicinity:

   Look this way. We're having a drought out our way.

6. passage or progress on a course:

   to make one's way on foot; to lead the way.

7. Often . distance:

   They've come a long way.

   Synonyms: interval, space

8. a path or course leading from one place to another:

   What's the shortest way to town?

9. British.
   1. an old Roman or pre-Roman road:

      Icknield Way.

   2. a minor street in a town:

      He lives in Stepney Way.

10. a road, route, passage, or channel (usually used in combination):

    highway; waterway; doorway.

    Synonyms: track

11. Law. a right of way.
12. any line of passage or travel, used or available:

    to blaze a way through dense woods.

13. space for passing or advancing:

    to clear a way through the crowd.

14. Often . a habit or custom:

    The grandmother lived by the ways of the old country.

    Synonyms: wont, practice, usage

15. course or mode of procedure that one chooses or wills:

    They had to do it my way.

16. condition, as to health, prosperity, or the like:

    to be in a bad way.

17. range or extent of experience or notice:

    the best device that ever came in my way.

18. a course of life, action, or experience:

    The way of transgressors is hard.

19. Informal. business:

    to be in the haberdashery way.

20. Nautical.
    1. ways, two or more ground ways down which a hull slides in being launched.
    2. movement or passage through the water.
21. Machinery. a longitudinal strip, as in a planer, guiding a moving part along a surface.

way

²

[ wey ]

adverb

1. Also 'way. away; from this or that place:

   Go way.

2. to a great degree or at quite a distance; far:

   way too heavy; way down the road.

way

/ weɪ /

noun

1. a manner, method, or means

   a way of life

   a way of knowing

2. a route or direction

   the way home

3. 1. a means or line of passage, such as a path or track
   2. ( in combination )

      waterway

4. space or room for movement or activity (esp in the phrases make way, in the way, out of the way )
5. distance, usually distance in general

   you've come a long way

6. a passage or journey

   on the way

7. characteristic style or manner

   I did it in my own way

8. often plural habits; idiosyncrasies

   he has some offensive ways

9. an aspect of something; particular

   in many ways he was right

10. 1. a street in or leading out of a town
    2. ( capital when part of a street name )

       Icknield Way

11. something that one wants in a determined manner (esp in the phrases get or have one's ( own ) way )
12. the experience or sphere in which one comes into contact with things (esp in the phrase come one's way )
13. informal.
    a state or condition, usually financial or concerning health (esp in the phrases in a good ( or bad ) way )
14. informal.
    the area or direction of one's home

    drop in if you're ever over my way

15. movement of a ship or other vessel
16. a right of way in law
17. a guide along which something can be moved, such as the surface of a lathe along which the tailstock slides
18. plural the wooden or metal tracks down which a ship slides to be launched
19. a course of life including experiences, conduct, etc

    the way of sin

20. archaic.
    calling or trade
21. by the way
    sentence modifier in passing or incidentally
22. 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

23. each way
    (of a bet) laid on a horse, dog, etc, to win or gain a place
24. give way
    1. to collapse or break down
    2. to withdraw or yield
25. give way to
    1. to step aside for or stop for
    2. to give full rein to (emotions, etc)
26. go out of one's way
    to take considerable trouble or inconvenience oneself
27. have a way with
    to have such a manner or skill as to handle successfully
28. have it both ways
    to enjoy two things that would normally contradict each other or be mutually exclusive
29. in a way
    in some respects
30. in no way
    not at all
31. lead the way
    1. to go first
    2. to set an example or precedent
32. make one's way
    1. to proceed or advance
    2. to achieve success in life
33. no way informal.
    that is impossible
34. on the way out informal.
    1. becoming unfashionable, obsolete, etc
    2. dying
35. out of the way
    1. removed or dealt with so as to be no longer a hindrance
    2. remote
    3. unusual and sometimes improper
36. pay one's way
    See pay 1
37. see one's way or see one's way clear
    to find it possible and be willing (to do something)
38. the way
    so that

    I left early the way I would avoid the traffic

39. under way
    having started moving or making progress

adverb

1. informal.
   1. at a considerable distance or extent

      way over yonder

   2. very far

      they're way up the mountain

2. informal.
   by far; considerably

   way better

3. slang.
   truly; genuinely

   they have a way cool site

Other Words From

• wayless adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of way¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by the way, in the course of one's remarks; incidentally:

   By the way, have you received that letter yet?

2. 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.

3. come one's way, to come to one; befall one:

   A bit of good fortune came my way.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.
7. 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.

8. 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.

9. have one's way with, (especially of a man) to have sexual intercourse with, sometimes by intimidating or forcing one's partner.
10. in a family way, pregnant.
11. in a way, after a fashion; to some extent:

    In a way, she's the nicest person I know.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.
16. no way, Informal. not under any circumstances; no:

    Apologize to him? No way!

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. take one's way, to start out; travel; go:

    He took his way across the park and headed uptown.

20. 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

Synonym Study

See method.

Example Sentences

“It may look different, it may feel different, but that's the reality — even in the most restrictive times, people have still found a way to navigate through increasingly complex barriers to access abortion care.”

From Salon

It is the simplest, most clear way of coming to a true understanding of reality.

From Slate

Two scientists studying metabolism accidentally discovered that removing a dog’s pancreas caused diabetes—paving the way for the discovery of insulin.

From Slate

And if Trump is to be believed, Musk and Ramaswamy will merely “pave the way” for Trump’s administration to implement the recommendations and “dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”

From Slate

The way Musk and Ramaswamy have been talking, they clearly have the idea that they’ll be cleaning house from Day 1 onward—just like Musk did when he bought Twitter in late 2022, brought his friends and cronies on as consultants for cost cuts, ousted the company’s executives, and went on to lay off thousands more staffers.

From Slate

Related Words

• aspect
• behavior
• circumstance
• condition
• detail
• fashion
• form
• manner
• nature
• particular
• practice
• respect
• sense
• situation
• state
• style
• thing
• tone
• use