mile

noun

ˈmī(-ə)l 

1

: any of various units of distance: such as

a

: a unit equal to 5280 feet see Weights and Measures Table

b

: nautical mile

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

Synonyms

• infinity
• long haul

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

In April, it was announced that cricket at the 2028 Games will be played at a temporary venue at the Fairplex in Pomona, 30 miles east of Los Angeles. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

The 800-mile-long, 48-inch diameter pipeline pushes oil from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. —Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

Gordon believes his changeup is a pitch that can play anywhere, from sea-level San Diego to mile-high Denver. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025

Windsor Castle, which is a royal residence of King Charles III, is located about 25 miles outside London. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing mile

• air mile
• country mile
• go the extra mile
• last mile
• mile high club
• nautical mile
• pound mile
• sea mile
• stand/stick out a mile
• statute mile
• three-mile limit

Rhymes for mile

• aisle
• bile
• chyle
• file
• guile
• heil
• isle
• kyle
• pile
• rile
• smile
• stile

Kids Definition

mile

noun

ˈmī(ə)l 

1

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

called also statute mile

see measure

2

: nautical mile