expressway

noun

ex·​press·​way ik-ˈspres-ˌwā How to pronounce expressway (audio)
Synonyms of expresswaynext
: a high-speed divided highway for through traffic with access partially or fully controlled

Examples of expressway in a Sentence

a baffling maze of high-speed expressways encircles the city
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.
Some sections of expressways were also closed, Kihara said. Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025 About 18% of all traffic fatalities occur on interstate highways or other freeways and expressways, according to data compiled by federal safety regulators. David Ingram, NBC news, 12 Nov. 2025 Many American cars have their steering on the left side, the opposite of the standard right-side steering in Japan, where expressway tolls are on the right side, for instance. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025 In response, a gunman sprayed Stanfa's car with automatic weapons during an ambush on the expressway, and although he wasn't hurt, his son Joseph was wounded in the head, per UPI. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for expressway

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of expressway was in 1944

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expressway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expressway. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

expressway

noun
ex·​press·​way ik-ˈspres-ˌwā How to pronounce expressway (audio)
: a divided superhighway that may be entered and left only at special places

More from Merriam-Webster on expressway

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