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
Tom Konvicka
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Examples of alley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
The $75 million project will convert the former bowling alley and entertainment center into a 2,000-capacity music venue and restaurant/bar that will serve the growing demand for live music and upscale nights out, said owner JW Roth.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
Neighbors – and later Milwaukee police – said gunfire erupted in a nearby alley when Howard was struck in the back of the head.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Moments later, Adams is seen getting up from the alley before going to a nearby store and collapsing in the doorway.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alley
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Noun
More than three years ago, Offset’s cousin Takeoff, another member of Migos, was shot and killed at a Houston bowling alley.
—ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
The $75 million project will convert the former bowling alley and entertainment center into a 2,000-capacity music venue and restaurant/bar that will serve the growing demand for live music and upscale nights out, said owner JW Roth.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
Neighbors – and later Milwaukee police – said gunfire erupted in a nearby alley when Howard was struck in the back of the head.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Moments later, Adams is seen getting up from the alley before going to a nearby store and collapsing in the doorway.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alley
Cite this Entry
“Alley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alley. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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