1
: a passage for a current of air (as in a mine or to the lungs)
2
: a designated route along which airplanes fly from airport to airport
especially
: such a route equipped with navigational aids
3
: airline
4
: a channel of a designated radio frequency for broadcasting or other radio communication
Examples of airway in a Sentence
a patient with a partially blocked airway
Recent Examples on the Web
Where the throat met his chest, the quarter had turned and aligned vertically in his airway, allowing air to pass, but was stuck between his vocal cords and trachea, according to the case report.
—
Irene Wright, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
In January, for example, the Food and Drug Administration disclosed that the agency is investigating reports of alopecia, a hair loss condition, and aspiration, a complication during surgery when people inhale food or other objects into their airway, linked to the drugs.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024
The foam used in the machines can break down, leading users to breathe chemicals or foam particles into their airways, the FDA said.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
Montgomery dislodged an object from the baby’s airway, who began gasping for air and crying.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024
Her younger son has since been diagnosed with asthma and needs to use an inhaler twice a day to keep his airways open.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 3 Feb. 2024
Bleach is also very effective at killing bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but can be irritating to the skin and airways and should also be used with caution.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024
Also, according to Ashanti Woods, MD, a pediatrician with Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, a baby's airway can be occluded or blocked when their chin comes in contact with their chest due to gravity.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 31 Jan. 2024
Since dogs cool themselves primarily through their respiratory tract, the compressed tissues in the airways of bulldog breeds limit air exchange and reduce their cooling ability dramatically.
—Patty Khuly, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
Irene Wright, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024
In January, for example, the Food and Drug Administration disclosed that the agency is investigating reports of alopecia, a hair loss condition, and aspiration, a complication during surgery when people inhale food or other objects into their airway, linked to the drugs.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024
The foam used in the machines can break down, leading users to breathe chemicals or foam particles into their airways, the FDA said.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
Montgomery dislodged an object from the baby’s airway, who began gasping for air and crying.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024
Her younger son has since been diagnosed with asthma and needs to use an inhaler twice a day to keep his airways open.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 3 Feb. 2024
Bleach is also very effective at killing bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but can be irritating to the skin and airways and should also be used with caution.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024
Also, according to Ashanti Woods, MD, a pediatrician with Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, a baby's airway can be occluded or blocked when their chin comes in contact with their chest due to gravity.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 31 Jan. 2024
Since dogs cool themselves primarily through their respiratory tract, the compressed tissues in the airways of bulldog breeds limit air exchange and reduce their cooling ability dramatically.
—Patty Khuly, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near airway
Cite this Entry
“Airway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airway. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
airway
noun
air·way
-ˌwā 
: a passageway for air into or out of the lungs
specifically
: a device passed into the trachea by way of the mouth or nose or through an incision to maintain a clear respiratory passageway (as during anesthesia, convulsions, or in obstructive laryngitis) see upper airway
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