express lane
noun
US
: an area in a store (such as a supermarket) where customers form a line that lets them pay for the things they are buying more quickly than other lanes
Customers with fewer than 12 items can use the express lane.
Examples of express lane in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Unlike subways, their Loop system can skip the stops — passengers can ride straight to their destination, like an underground express lane in Tesla vehicles or shuttles.
—
Sandy Mazza, Nashville Tennessean, 28 July 2025
The 2022 team took the express lane, getting there in an ugly four-game sweep at the hands of the Avalanche.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Customers can initiate a return, receive a QR code and complete the return at a special express lane in-store.
—Brett Beveridge, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
The closures include the left lane of eastbound I-70, the eastbound I-70 express lane and the left shoulder of westbound I-70 between Interstate 225 and Chambers Road in Aurora.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
Most are drawn to the offer of an express lane to permanent residency, plus more favorable tax implications; foreign nationals living in the U.S. on a Gold Card would only be taxed on their U.S. earnings.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 2 June 2025
That means all other Africans who have waited in refugee camps for years after being vetted and cleared must step back and wait even longer for their uncertain futures to play out, as white South Africans get ushered through the express lane.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
Imagine a crowded highway where emergency vehicles get their own express lane that's always open – that's essentially what network slicing does for emergency communications.
—Maribel Lopez, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Those caught breaking speed limits again will receive civil offense tickets, similar to express lane violations, with fines starting at $45.
—Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
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.
Sandy Mazza, Nashville Tennessean, 28 July 2025
The 2022 team took the express lane, getting there in an ugly four-game sweep at the hands of the Avalanche.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Customers can initiate a return, receive a QR code and complete the return at a special express lane in-store.
—Brett Beveridge, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
The closures include the left lane of eastbound I-70, the eastbound I-70 express lane and the left shoulder of westbound I-70 between Interstate 225 and Chambers Road in Aurora.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
Most are drawn to the offer of an express lane to permanent residency, plus more favorable tax implications; foreign nationals living in the U.S. on a Gold Card would only be taxed on their U.S. earnings.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 2 June 2025
That means all other Africans who have waited in refugee camps for years after being vetted and cleared must step back and wait even longer for their uncertain futures to play out, as white South Africans get ushered through the express lane.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
Imagine a crowded highway where emergency vehicles get their own express lane that's always open – that's essentially what network slicing does for emergency communications.
—Maribel Lopez, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Those caught breaking speed limits again will receive civil offense tickets, similar to express lane violations, with fines starting at $45.
—Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Express lane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/express%20lane. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share