alley

1 of 2

noun (1)

al·​ley ˈa-lē How to pronounce alley (audio)
plural alleys
1
: a garden or park walk bordered by trees or bushes
2
a(1)
: a grassed enclosure for bowling or skittles
(2)
: a hardwood lane for bowling
also : a room or building housing a group of such lanes
b
: the space on each side of a tennis doubles court between the sideline and the service sideline
c
: an area in a baseball outfield between two outfielders when they are in normal positions
hit a line drive into the alley
3
: a narrow street
especially : a thoroughfare through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings
4
: an extensive region where destructive natural phenomena of a specified type (such as tornadoes) occur often or are likely to occur
The most obvious tornado alley extends from the plains of northwest Texas eastward into north Texas and then northward across Oklahoma, Kansas, and eastern Nebraska.Tom Konvicka

alley

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural alleys
: a playing marble
especially : one of superior quality
Phrases
up one's alley or less commonly down one's alley
: suited to one's own tastes or abilities
a job that's right up her alley

Examples of alley in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Hours later, Nona cut through the alley, crept beside Hester Gardens’ brick walls, and tucked into the shadows spreading across the concrete. Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025 My own reading led me down a narrower and perhaps less nightmarish alley, but one with cautionary implications of its own. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2025 Boise police stated that many of the cows found their way to an alley between 18th and 19th streets. Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2025 Housed inside a former bowling alley, this colorful cavern of cottons and bolts has become a destination for crafters everywhere. Maggie Downs, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alley

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French alee, from aler to go

Noun (2)

by shortening and alteration from alabaster

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1720, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alley was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Alley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alley. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

alley

noun
al·​ley
ˈal-ē
plural alleys
1
: a garden or park walk bordered by trees or bushes
2
: a narrow wooden floor on which balls are rolled in bowling
also : a room or building housing a number of such alleys
3
: a narrow street or passageway between buildings

More from Merriam-Webster on alley

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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