highway

noun

high·​way ˈhī-ˌwā How to pronounce highway (audio)
: a public way
especially : a main direct road

Examples of highway in a Sentence

I had heard there was a traffic jam on the highway, so I took the side roads. the four-lane highway narrows to two lanes once you leave 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.
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area. Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2025 The project will include a massive new 10-lane bridge over the highway at Interstate 77 exit 36. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2025 Guatemala City — In the bracing morning air, workers leave their homes in the outer suburbs and hurry toward the industrial buildings lining the Guatemalan capital’s highways. Ladan Anoushfar, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025 Officials believe Milne turned off the highway at some point and became lost in the bushland, Rothwell said. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for highway

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of highway was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Highway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/highway. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

highway

noun
high·​way ˈhī-ˌwā How to pronounce highway (audio)
: a public road
especially : a main direct road

More from Merriam-Webster on highway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!