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

Recent Examples on the Web The negotiations remained secret, moving over the next nine months to out-of-the-way locations, including a farmhouse. Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023 Its brushless motor can run for up to 55 minutes and comes with a handy wall mount for easy, out-of-the-way storage. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023 Widespread problems with the charging network, especially in out-of-the-way spots, caused another of my colleagues, Mariel Garza, to consider trading in her electric Kia earlier this year. Kim Janssen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023 With a penchant for riding on dirt or gravel roads and paths and piecing together out-of-the-way routes, gravel bikers — as opposed to mountain bikers, who prefer narrower trails over uneven terrain — make up a booming segment within the cycling industry. Cindy Hirschfeld, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2023 Despite its out-of-the-way location, Holler handed out 1,700 naloxone kits last year, more than half of them Narcan. Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2023 The rows of white canvas cabin tents newly erected in an out-of-the-way quarter of Culver City, along the bank of Ballona Creek, have the ambiance of an Army field base. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023 Other places—usually small, out-of-the-way towns—used cryptids as local mascots, a means of establishing an identity. Colin Dickey, Popular Mechanics, 31 Aug. 2023 The rest of the console is well formatted, with a wireless charging pad, out-of-the-way cupholders, and narrow-but-deep storage under the armrest. Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'out-of-the-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

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near out-of-the-way

Cite this Entry

“Out-of-the-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/out-of-the-way. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

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: - 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!