alleyway

noun

al·​ley·​way ˈa-lē-ˌwā How to pronounce alleyway (audio)
Synonyms of alleywaynext
1
: a narrow passageway
2

Examples of alleyway 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.
From the Detroit Riverfront to Campus Martius and even some of the city's alleyways, Detroit has become home to spaces designed for people to gather, connect and spend time. Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Detectives reviewed surveillance footage, which showed a white SUV entering the alleyway. Alexa Newsom, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026 Several individuals from the white sprinter van, who were dressed as construction workers, were said to have used that ruse to gain access to the alleyway and fire escape system located behind the store by entering an East 58th Street building nearby that was under construction. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 June 2026 Aurora police on Wednesday arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting a 25-year-old during an argument in an alleyway earlier this month, department officials said. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for alleyway

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of alleyway was in 1788

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alleyway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleyway. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

alleyway

noun
al·​ley·​way ˈal-ē-ˌwā How to pronounce alleyway (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on alleyway

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