avenue

noun

av·​e·​nue ˈa-və-ˌnü 

-ˌnyü

1

: a way of access : route

2

: a channel for pursuing a desired object

avenues of communication

3

a

chiefly British : the principal walk or driveway to a house situated off a main road

b

: a broad passageway bordered by trees

4

: an often broad street or road

Synonyms

• arterial
• artery
• boulevard
• carriageway [British]
• drag
• drive
• expressway
• freeway
• high road
• highway
• pass
• pike
• road
• roadway
• route
• row
• street
• thoroughfare
• thruway
• trace
• turnpike
• way

Examples of avenue in a Sentence

We drove down the avenue.

We plan to pursue all available avenues to get our message to the public.

They have closed off that avenue of discussion.

a new avenue of research

Recent Examples on the Web

Assange’s appeal was his only remaining legal avenue in the U.K. justice system. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 May 2024

Gary Jenkins, an ex-Kansas City police detective, recently offered a grainy photograph of the restaurant on Independence and Prospect avenues. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from feminine of avenu, past participle of avenir to come to, from Latin advenire — more at adventure

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

avenue

noun

av·​e·​nue ˈav-ə-ˌn(y)ü 

1

: a way or route to a place or goal : path

2

: a usually wide street