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Definition of waynext
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as in room
an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing made way for them to pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves go the same way that the school bus does

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in doorway
the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure we came in the back way

Synonyms & Similar Words

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way

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word way different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of way are fashion, manner, method, mode, and system. While all these words mean "the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end," way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words.

has her own way of doing things

In what contexts can fashion take the place of way?

Although the words fashion and way have much in common, fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something.

rushing about in his typical fashion

How are the words manner and mode related as synonyms of way?

Manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive.

an odd manner of conducting

When would method be a good substitute for way?

The synonyms method and way are sometimes interchangeable, but method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps.

effective teaching methods

Where would mode be a reasonable alternative to way?

The words mode and way are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference.

the preferred mode of transportation

When might system be a better fit than way?

In some situations, the words system and way are roughly equivalent. However, system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness.

a filing system

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of way
Noun
The Sooners were on their way to Omaha, Nebraska to play in the 2026 Men’s College World Series (CWS). Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026 Ho Hern Shin, a deputy managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore who led the board's work on AI, presented the practices as a way to help firms adopt the technology responsibly while the ground keeps shifting beneath them. Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Adverb
This comparison is a wash; both are way better than 1080p but not extra-sharp resolutions. Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 17 June 2026 For some that time can be cut way too short, so please cherish every moment. Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for way
Noun
  • The roads are gravel, remote, full of potholes, and arriving at the hotel meant making a river crossing at one point in time (a bridge has since been introduced).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
  • Police call for drivers to remain attentive, particularly during the hours of sunrise and sunset, when shifting lighting conditions affect road visibility.
    Lyanne Wang, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • Chiron moving into Taurus wants to reshape your habits.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • These small habits keep the closet lean with almost no effort.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • And Dolan’s input was a part of the Knicks’ decision to fire Tom Thibodeau and go down the circuitous path that brought Mike Brown to their sidelines, and that, too, worked out.
    Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • Internationally collaborative and open-science efforts such as this are putting us on a path toward a meaningful treatment to halt the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
    Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • The young David displayed hypergraphic tendencies—the compulsive need to make a mark, to depict.
    Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
  • There is a tendency in retail to discuss scale in operational terms.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Venus’ connection to Uranus encourages you to work the room, or play the field, if that’s your thing.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • The strike had the narrowest room for error, and Nakamura wrapped it around and through the pesky Dutch backline for the first Japanese goal to send their supporters’ section into a frenzy.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • The journey is meant to revive a sea route not used for 300 years, and one that in the past could’ve been considered nearly impossible –– given the lack of maps and the crude vessels early navigators of the Bashi Channel once used.
    Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
  • For more information on the DDOT routes, visit the city's website or call 313-933-1300.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
  • OpenAI was reportedly served with a subpoena seeking information about its approach to advertising, consumer and health data, minor and senior users and models, among other activities.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Measure 4 inches to either side of this point (rounding up or down to find the nearest grooves), to create an 8-inch-wide doorway.
    Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2026
  • According to the home’s actual dimensions, the doorway (which didn’t exist when the family moved in) should dead-end to an external wall; instead, when Navidson opens the door, there’s a narrow hallway nearly ten feet long inside.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/way. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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