way

¹way

noun \ˈwā\

Definition of WAY

1

a : a thoroughfare for travel or transportation from place to place b : an opening for passage <this door is the only way out of the room>

2

: the course traveled from one place to another : route <asked the way to the museum>

3

a : a course (as a series of actions or sequence of events) leading in a direction or toward an objective <led the way to eventual open heart operations — Current Biography> b (1) : a course of action <took the easy way out> (2) : opportunity, capability, or fact of doing as one pleases <always manages to get her own way> c : a possible decision, action, or outcome : possibility <they were rude—no two ways about it>

4

a : manner or method of doing or happening <admired her way of thinking>; also : method of accomplishing : means <that's the way to do it> b : feature, respect <in no way resembles her mother> c : a usually specified degree of participation in an activity or enterprise <active in real estate in a small way>

5

a : characteristic, regular, or habitual manner or mode of being, behaving, or happening <knows nothing of the ways of women> b : ability to get along well or perform well <she has a way with kids> <a way with words>

6

: the length of a course : distance <has come a long way in her studies> <still have a way to go>

7

: movement or progress along a course <worked her way up the corporate ladder>

8

a : direction <is coming this way> b : participant —usually used in combination <three-way discussion>

9

: state of affairs : condition, state <that's the way things are>

10

a plural but sometimes sing in constr : an inclined structure upon which a ship is built or supported in launching b plural : the guiding surfaces on the bed of a machine along which a table or carriage moves

11

: category, kind —usually used in the phrase in the way of <doesn't require much in the way of expensive equipment — Forbes>

12

: motion or speed of a ship or boat through the water

— all the way

: to the full or entire extent : as far as possible <ran all the way home> <seated all the way in the back>

— by the way

: by way of interjection or digression : incidentally

— by way of

1

: for the purpose of

2

: by the route through : via

— in a way

1

: within limits : with reservations

2

: from one point of view

— in one's way also in the way

1

: in a position to be encountered by one : in or along one's course <an opportunity had been put in my way — Ellen Glasgow>

2

: in a position to hinder or obstruct

— on the way or on one's way

: moving along in one's course : in progress

— out of the way

1

: wrong, improper <didn't know I'd said anything out of the way>

2

a : in or to a secluded place

b : unusual, remarkable <there's nothing out of the way about the plan>

3

: done, completed <got his homework out of the way>

— the way

1

: in view of the manner in which <you'd think she was rich, the way she spends money>

2

: like, as <we have cats the way other people have mice — James Thurber>

Examples of WAY

1. We'll try doing it your way first.
2. Let me explain it this way.
3. You can pay for your purchase in one of two ways: by cash or by credit card.
4. Which door is the way in?
5. The back way was blocked.
6. This door is the only way out of the room.

Origin of WAY

Middle English, from Old English weg; akin to Old High German weg way, Old English wegan to move, Latin vehere to carry, via way

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WAY

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

Related Words: causeway; autobahn, autoroute, autostrada, dual carriageway [chiefly British], interstate, motorway [chiefly British], superhighway; beltway, bypass, parkway, ring road [chiefly British]; corniche, switchback; through street; high street [British], Main Street; backstreet, branch, bystreet, byway, crossroad, secondary road, shunpike, side road, side street; alley, alleyway; circle, lane, laneway [British], mews [chiefly British], place; close [chiefly British], cul-de-sac, dead end; corridor; track, trail

Near Antonyms: averseness, disinclination, dislike, indisposition

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See Synonym Discussion at method

Rhymes with WAY

a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, weigh, whey, yea