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

The boutique- and restaurant-packed Da’an district starts just down the street, and the Taipei Arena subway station around the corner connects you to the rest of the city with ease. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026

Buses will be outfitted with chains and a focus will be on keeping uncovered subway tracks clear. —February 22, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026

The subway ran in the distance. —Mary Gaitskill, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2026

Why Slab Backsplashes Are Coming for Tile This sleek-looking backsplash option is becoming increasingly popular, with traditional subway or mosaic tile turning into a thing of the past. —Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 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