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
Sanchez was arrested after being stabbed in downtown Indianapolis and is facing possible jail time for his role in a violent fight with a 69-year-old truck driver in an alley. Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025 Grandpa Chic Grandpa chic—sometimes also referred to as 'country club chic' or 'country club grandpa'—is right up Richard Gilmore's alley. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025 Early in the investigation, authorities searched trash cans in the alley outside the Rainbow Room for knives but tested only a few of the liquor bottles in the club for prints. Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Oct. 2025 The truck driver works for a company specializing in commercial cooking oil recycling and disposal, and had parked in an alley near a hotel loading dock, the AP reported. Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 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 9 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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