way 1 of 2

noun

ˈwā How to pronounce way (audio)
Definition of waynext
1
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel the town honored the local sports hero by naming after him a short way connecting two shopping centers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in habit
a usual manner of behaving or doing she's set in her ways and is not about to change

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in path
an established course for traveling from one place to another took the regular way to work

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in tendency
an established pattern of behavior that's just his way, so pay him no mind

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
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
6
as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves go the same way that the school bus does

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7
as in approach
the means or procedure for doing something figured out the best way to accomplish the task

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8
as in doorway
the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure we came in the back way

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9
as in option
the power, right, or opportunity to choose have it your way

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in distance
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects it's just a little way down the road

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way

2 of 2

adverb

as in very
to a great degree "Oh, I'm just way thrilled to be here!" the pageant contestant gushed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
If the Islanders won, my father would gleefully beep his horn on the way out of the Coliseum parking lot and listen to post-game radio the whole ride home. —Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025 These perspectives show that diners and restaurateurs alike see tipping as an act of acknowledgment — a way to recognize the difference between acceptable and exceptional service. —Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Combining the optimism of Don Quixote and Candide became the guide for my main character—an absolutely surreal, absurd optimist, who believes that even things way out of his league are possible for him. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2025 And Hurricane Melissa, supercharged by a Caribbean Sea that’s way hotter than it should be, just smashed into Jamaica, the island my family is from, with record-breaking winds. —Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Time, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for way
  1. road
  2. habit
  3. path
  4. tendency
  5. room
  6. route
  7. approach
  8. doorway
Noun
  • Running Fence was envisioned as a fabric-laden fence that would traverse Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California to the sea, crossing roads, highways, and private property.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of road
Noun
  • But the reality for him, fairly or unfairly, is that if some of the habits persist, the smoke may turn to fire as the season progresses.
    — Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • In November 2024, PEOPLE spoke with Bethan Holt, fashion director at the Telegraph, about the princess's habit, which may raise eyebrows with critics.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
Definition of habit
Noun
  • Vietnamese authorities have ordered mass evacuations from low-lying coastal areas in the path of Typhoon Kalmaegi, the 13th to hit Vietnam this year.
    — Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • There is no official agreement, internal or otherwise, and Republicans and Democrats Wednesday sounded no closer to a path forward.
    — Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of path
Noun
  • Now the Dark Knight has always had some distinctly authoritarian tendencies baked into his tactics and mythology, as a Christopher Nolan movie or three made pretty clear.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Unfortunately, the songs have a tendency to drift towards a very similar sound, which stands out in the context of a project where everything else is so imaginative.
    — Kambole Campbell, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • The energy Mamdani inspired could be felt in the Paramount as people of all races and genders across the age spectrum danced in the room to upbeat rap and pop music.
    — Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The neutral tones and organic elements of the hotel’s 349 rooms and suites soothe the spirit and mirror the otherworldly atmosphere of the Riviera Maya.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of room
Noun
  • This is your fastest route to real‑time rebooks and alerts.
    — The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Quilt Trails of the Tar and Roanoke Rivers As one of North Carolina’s most widespread routes, the Quilt Trails of the Tar and Roanoke Rivers encompasses seven counties.
    — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of route
Noun
  • The research team claimed that this approach enables AeroMap to capture the main effects of drag without the high computing demands of more detailed simulations.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
  • This uneven approach means leaders can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach.
    — Feon Ang, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of approach
Noun
  • Christmas Garland Add a touch of winter magic to bannisters, doorways, and fireplace mantels with this 72-inch garland that includes pops of red berries, faux cypress, and pine.
    — Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Russell sleeps, bathes and eats in the living room because his wheelchair can’t fit through narrow halls and doorways.
    — Addie Costello, jsonline.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Definition of doorway

Phrases Containing way

Browse Nearby Words

waxy
way
wayfarer
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Cite this Entry

“Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/way. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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