mile

noun

ˈmī(-ə)l 

1

: any of various units of distance: such as

a

: a unit equal to 5280 feet see Weights and Measures Table

b

: nautical mile

2

: a race of a mile

3

: a relatively great distance, degree, or interval

—usually plural

was miles ahead of them in education

—sometimes used adverbially

This one is miles [=much, far] better than that one.

see also:

a mile a minute miles from nowhere

Synonyms of mile

• infinity
• long haul

Examples of mile in a Sentence

We passed mile after mile of beautiful scenery as we drove through the country.

We traveled over miles of dirt road.

The car was traveling at 70 miles per hour.

We were miles from home.

We still have miles to go.

The beach stretched on for miles and miles.

Recent Examples on the Web

The crash happened at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

The Federal Highway Administration says that the average annual driving distance for American drivers is 13,476 miles. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Where models driven for 100,000 miles would have been considered junkyard fodder back in the 1960s and ‘70s, contemporary models can run for 200,000 or more miles if properly maintained. — Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The event, held in Sedalia, roughly 80 miles southeast of Kansas City, has long marked an unofficial start to the fall election season. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English mīl, from Latin milia miles, from milia passuum, literally, thousands of paces, from milia, plural of mille thousand

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mile

• air mile
• a mile a minute
• country mile
• go the extra mile
• last mile
• mile-high club
• nautical mile
• pound mile
• sea mile
• stand/stick out a mile
• statute mile
• three-mile limit

Rhymes for mile

• aisle
• bile
• chyle
• file
• guile
• heil
• isle
• kyle
• pile
• rile
• smile
• stile

Kids Definition

mile

noun

ˈmī(ə)l 

1

: a unit of measure equal to 5280 feet (about 1609 meters)

called also statute mile

see measure

2

: nautical mile