Broadway

noun

Broad·​way ˈbrȯd-ˌwā How to pronounce Broadway (audio)
-ˈwā
: the New York commercial theater and amusement world
specifically : playhouses located in the area between the Avenue of the Americas and Ninth Avenue and from W. 41st Street to W. 53rd Street
Broadway adjective
Broadwayite noun

Examples of Broadway in a Sentence

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.
In an impactful Broadway debut, the Scream star finds the sweet spot between sincerity and satire, playing Rose as earnestly naive without losing the character's strength. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026 Two years later, in a case of life imitating art, Michele realized her dreams of playing Fanny Brice on Broadway — much like Rachel Berry — replacing Beanie Feldstein in the revival of Funny Girl. James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026 Sabrina Carpenter brought Hollywood, Broadway and a good old fashioned house party to the desert in a rollicking, raunchy and hit-filled headlining Coachella set. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026 The outdoor venue on the Fox River in downtown Aurora (360 N. Broadway) took last summer off for renovations, and will reopen on June 20 for Blues on the Fox, including Trombone Shorty and Ally Venable. Doug George, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Broadway

Word History

Etymology

Broadway, street in New York City

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Broadway was in 1881

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Broadway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Broadway. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

Broadway

noun
Broad·​way ˈbrȯd-ˌwā How to pronounce Broadway (audio)
-ˈwā
: the world of the theater in New York City : the New York stage
a big star on Broadway
Broadway adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Broadway

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster