out of the way

1 of 2

phrase

Synonyms of out of the waynext
1
: wrong, improper
didn't know I'd said anything out of the way
2
a
: in or to a secluded place
b
: unusual, remarkable
there's nothing out of the way about the plan
3
: done, completed
got his homework out of the way

out-of-the-way

2 of 2

adjective

1
: unusual
out-of-the-way information
2
: being off the beaten track
an out-of-the-way restaurant

Examples of out of the way in a Sentence

Adjective the night watchman calls the police if he notices any out-of-the-way activity taking place during his shift there was nothing out-of-the-way about the hitchhiker's appearance that might arouse suspicion
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
If your pets seem to be acting weird and are paying attention to walls and out-of-the-way spots, that’s also a clue. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026 Alternative culture stores and venues are usually located in out-of-the-way areas. Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026 As for where to decorate, focus on your TV stand, end tables, and kitchen table, the most high-traffic but out-of-the-way areas. Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2025 From the east coast to the west and on to the Hawaiian Islands, these are places that are less visited, out-of-the-way and still virtually undiscovered. Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for out of the way

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of out of the way was in 1704

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Out of the way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/out%20of%20the%20way. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

out-of-the-way

adjective
ˌau̇t-ə(v)-t͟hə-ˈwā
1
: being off the usual paths
an out-of-the-way village
2
: not commonly found or met : unusual
the store specializes in out-of-the-way books
Last Updated: - Definition revised
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