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

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 trauma recovery center provided me with a community of caregivers willing to go the extra mile on my behalf. —Kathy Brown-Lowe, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026

With 15 event venues spread out over more than 10,ooo square miles, these are the most geographically widespread Games to ever be staged. —Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Rather than risk the herd, the cowboys cut out one old cow and pushed her about a half-mile upstream and into the water. —Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026

Dee Farrand, 57, of Marana, Arizona, could once run five miles and was excelling at her job in sales. —Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 27 Jan. 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
• 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