ways

¹ American

[weyz] / weɪz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

way.

-ways ² American

a suffix appearing in native English adverbs.

always; sideways.

-ways British

suffix

indicating direction or manner

sideways

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ways¹

Middle English weyes, Old English weges, genitive singular of weg way ¹

Origin of -ways²

Middle English; way ¹, -s ¹

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.

As football clubs look to cash in on fans looking for more fashionable ways to support their clubs, you can expect to see more streetwear collaborations in the future.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

People need to figure out other ways to put their energy to other things that’s important.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

One of the common ways people invest in private credit might have more risk than previously known.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Listeners interpret Kiedis’ lyrics in many ways, but regardless of what he intended, the song’s message circles back to nurturing and harnessing one’s individuality into a creative fuel.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

In some ways she was loud and bossy and not always considerate, but on the other hand she was so full of energy and fun and playful.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

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