1
: that moves in or allows movement in only one direction
a one-way street
2
: one-sided, unilateral
a one-way conversation
3
: that functions in only one of two or more ways

Examples of one-way in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The of powerful 1875-watt airflow and six heat and speed settings on the Hot Tools Pro Signature Ionic Ceramic Hair Dryer is your one-way ticket to a salon-level blowout. Shanna Shipin, Allure, 24 Nov. 2023 The evacuation order for the neighborhoods in the area was lifted around 5 p.m., and one lane of state Route 94 reopened between Steele Canyon Road and Lyons Valley Road with one-way traffic control in place. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023 Boring predicted autonomous vehicles would be able to travel at speeds of up to 150 miles an hour, making a one-way trip take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Byjessica Mathews, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023 On the September day in 2018 that Andrew Anderson was released from federal prison in Atlanta, he was handed $220 and a one-way Greyhound bus ticket to Baltimore. John Kelly, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023 To celebrate the new routes, Allegiant will offer several one-way flights starting at just $49. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Britain’s Supreme Court dealt the government a defeat Nov. 15, ruling that its flagship policy to send migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda is unlawful. Jill Lawless, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Nov. 2023 Riders would not have to pay the fare, which ranges from $1.50 to $4.25 for a one-way ride. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023 Recognize that communication isn’t a one-way street. Chris Kille, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'one-way.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-way was in 1824

Cite this Entry

“One-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-way. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

one-way

adjective
1
: moving or allowing movement in one direction only
2

More from Merriam-Webster on one-way

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