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

In recent years, cities have been living through short storms that turn subway stations into lakes, streets into rivers, cars into boats. —Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026

The city's metro subway system was established in 1983 with eight stations, from Charles Center to Reisterstown Plaza. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026

Millions rely on the subway every day, having Albany tie back the MTA management’s hands only serves the TWU, not the riding passengers. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026

Large deficits turn an express subway into the local, requiring station-to-station stops. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 4 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