1
: any of various units of distance: such as
a
: a unit equal to 5280 feet see Weights and Measures Table
2
: a race of a mile
3
: a relatively great distance, degree, or interval
usually plural
was miles ahead of them in education
sometimes used adverbially
This one is miles [=much, far] better than that one.
Phrases
a mile a minute
: with great speed
talking a mile a minute

Examples of mile in a Sentence

We passed mile after mile of beautiful scenery as we drove through the country. We traveled over miles of dirt road. The car was traveling at 70 miles per hour. We were miles from home. We still have miles to go. The beach stretched on for miles and miles.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While ’Oumuamua was estimated to have a diameter of 0.19 miles (0.3 kilometers), Borisov’s was 3.7 miles (6 kilometers). Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 The city has 17 miles of coastline and is known for good surfing conditions, according to its website. July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025 The corridor stretching more than 8 miles is located near the edge of Uptown. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2025 The tracks follow the edge of the beach for about six miles there, where the rails are threatened on one side by coastal erosion and on the other side by crumbling bluffs. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mile

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English mīl, from Latin milia miles, from milia passuum, literally, thousands of paces, from milia, plural of mille thousand

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mile was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mile. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

mile

noun
1
: a unit of measure equal to 5280 feet (about 1609 meters)

called also statute mile

see measure
2

More from Merriam-Webster on mile

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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