subway

noun

sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā How to pronounce subway (audio)
: an underground way: such as
a
: a passage under a street (as for pedestrians, power cables, or water or gas mains)
b
: a usually electric underground railway
c
subway intransitive verb

Examples of subway in a Sentence

I took the subway to midtown. No one on the subway seemed to mind how crowded it was. I've been on both the New York subway and the Underground in London.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds wandered through New York, their first moments as a married couple captured on the subway and in the rain on the streets that Mamdani could be Mayor of in just a few months' time. Callum Sutherland, Time, 26 June 2025 Its small, rounded tip allows for targeted and precise application, even on the subway or in an Uber. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 26 June 2025 At Hood’s lair, the heist crew is watching an ad for a new subway system, TNNL. Stacia Brown, Vulture, 26 June 2025 The battle between the two of them, and a host of other local officials, on who can best stand up to President Donald Trump, lower the city's housing costs, and remove homeless people from the streets and subways has drawn big spending from billionaires on Cuomo’s behalf. Ben Adler, USA Today, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for subway

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subway was in 1822

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subway. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

subway

noun
sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā How to pronounce subway (audio)
1
: an underground passage
2
: a usually electric underground railway

More from Merriam-Webster on subway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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