subway

noun

sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā 

: 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

: underpass

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

Man with machete attacked three people at the 42nd Street-Grand Central subway station Saturday morning before police fatally shot him. —Julie Walker, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026

Police shot and killed a knife-wielding man on a subway platform. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026

When the doors on her subway car were finally opened, Sheppard stepped out onto the platform and saw the bloody aftermath of the slashings and shooting. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026

Once adhered properly, my press-ons last through the wear and tear of everyday life—on keyboards, NYC subway poles, and even at the gym. —Amanda Le, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing subway

• subway train

Rhymes for subway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

subway

noun

sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā 

1

: an underground passage

2

: a usually electric underground railway