Main Entry: ¹way

Pronunciation: \ˈwā\

Function: noun

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

Date: before 12th century

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

synonyms see method

— 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>