alley

¹

[ al-ee ]

noun

, plural al·leys.

1. a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc.
2. a narrow back street.
3. a walk, as in a garden, enclosed with hedges or shrubbery.
4. Bowling.
   1. a long, narrow, wooden lane or floor along which the ball is rolled.
   2. (often plural) a building for bowling.
   3. bowling green ( defs ).
5. Tennis. the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline.
6. Rare. an aisle.

alley

²

[ al-ee ]

noun

, Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

, plural al·leys.

1. a choice, large playing marble.

alley

¹

/ ˈælɪ /

noun

1. a large playing marble

alley

²

/ ˈælɪ /

noun

1. a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings
2. See bowling alley
3. tennis the space between the singles and doubles sidelines
4. a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes
5. up one's alley or down one's alley
   See street

Word History and Origins

Origin of alley¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English al(e)y, from Middle French alee “walk, passage,” noun use of feminine of ale, past participle of aler “to walk,” probably from unattested Vulgar Latin allārī, from allātus, past participle of afferre “to bring”; amble

Origin of alley²

First recorded in 1710–20; probably al(abaster) + -y ², spelling to conform with alley ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of alley¹

C18: shortened and changed from alabaster

Origin of alley²

C14: from Old French alee, from aler to go, ultimately from Latin ambulāre to walk

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. up / down one's alley, Informal. in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes:

   If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley.

More idioms and phrases containing alley

In addition to the idiom beginning with alley , also see blind alley ; right up one's alley .

Synonym Study

See street.

Example Sentences

Afterward, Rivera told the deputies, the shooter climbed in the passenger side of a Cadillac that was waiting in a nearby alley and left.

From Los Angeles Times

He waited until she was alone at a bus stop before confronting her, then lured her into a nearby alley where he launched a ferocious minute-long attack.

From BBC

Nate Meadows, who was walking a pit bull mix down an alley behind Evo, where he lives, would welcome a new park.

From Los Angeles Times

Their lives outside the restaurant are of little consequence, with a break in the alley out back the only time for meaningful connection.

From Los Angeles Times

MacPhail secretly followed Holly for about an hour after she left school on the afternoon of 27 January, before attacking her in an alley next to a pizza shop.

From BBC

More About Alley

What is an alley?

An alley is a narrow passage between buildings or other structures. The word alleyway means the same thing.

Alley can also refer to a narrow path or passage behind a row of houses, such as one that allows access to garages and back yards.

An alley can also be a narrow street or lane—the word alley might even be used in the name of such a street, as in Elfreth’s Alley. All of these senses of alley refer to passages that are outside—you wouldn’t normally call a narrow passage an alley if it is indoors.

The term bowling alley refers to a building with lanes for bowling—which can also be called alleys.

The proper plural of alley is alleys.

Example: We took a shortcut through the narrow alley between the shops.

Where does alley come from?

The first records of the word alley come from the 1300s. It comes from the Middle French alee, meaning “walk” or “passage,” from verb aler, “to walk.”

In big cities, alleys between buildings are often very narrow—wide enough to walk down but not drive. These kinds of alleys are often depicted as dark, dangerous, or mysterious places—places where dangerous people might be lurking. In reality, they’re usually just places where businesses deposit their garbage in dumpsters.

A blind alley is a road or alley with a dead end (or a figurative dead end). An alley cat is a stray cat so-named probably because they often take shelter in alleys. If something is said to be up one’s alley, it means it is something that’s suited to their tastes or interests. The phrase probably uses one’s alley as a way of referring to one’s area of interest.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to alley?

• alleys (plural)

What are some synonyms for alley?

• alleyway
• lane
• passage
• passageway
• pathway
• walk
• walkway

What are some words that share a root or word element with alley? 

• alley cat
• blind alley
• up one’s alley
• bowling alley

What are some words that often get used in discussing alley?

• narrow
• long
• dark
• back
• street

How is alley used in real life?

Alley is most commonly used to refer to the narrow passage between buildings or to the lane behind a row of houses.

Very well maintained back alley…I spotted only one little sticker😀 pic.twitter.com/P8s3yhaSqL

— Alex Lund, Author (@AlexLundAuthor) December 3, 2020

This dude is having such a slow night he’s serenading two dogs in the alley behind his restaurant pic.twitter.com/2YKIeyGIEw

— Norrin Hester (@norrinhester) November 22, 2020

Before we got the curbside receptacles, we had to take our trash to the dumpster in the alley behind the house 😭 pic.twitter.com/XLYlZwNkbP

— Aɳαʝαι Sυɱɱҽɾʂ (@Stfu_Anajai) December 5, 2020

 

Try using alley!

Is alley used correctly in the following sentence? 

Please pull the car around back and park in the alley.