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

Wilson was arrested in February for allegedly swiping a subway rider through a turnstile and received cash in exchange. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025

Flooding also caused subway delays as crews worked to remove water from the tracks. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025

In October 2024 ahead of her own stay at MSG, Billie Eilish recorded encouragements to take the subways for environmental benefits. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025

Featuring the works of artist Michael Storrings, the puzzle artfully depicts a snowy winter scene in New York City, complete with the subway line, skyscrapers, bright yellow taxis, storefronts, and of course, pedestrians strolling the streets. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025

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