routes 1 of 2

Definition of routesnext
plural of route
1
2
3
as in ways
the direction along which something or someone moves hurricanes generally take a northerly route up the Atlantic seaboard

Synonyms & Similar Words

routes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of route
as in guides
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the guide routed us smoothly through the jungle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of routes
Noun
The state transportation agency said drivers should avoid the area or use alternate routes. Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026 The conflict has meant crisis for the aviation industry, particularly in the Middle East, where airspace closures have forced carriers to cancel flights and take longer and costlier routes. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026 Staff say the theft forced them to reshuffle routes, delay pickups and scramble to notify parents – throwing off entire school days. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026 As Iran strangles the Strait of Hormuz, countries have scrambled for alternative routes. Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026 Dallas Area Rapid Transit operates a couple of bus routes near the mall, but no train line passes through. Lilly Kersh, Dallas Morning News, 21 Mar. 2026 Travelers in the area should use parallel north-south roads such as Florin Perkins Road and Hedge Avenue, or alternate east-west routes including Jackson and Elder Creek roads. Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 21 Mar. 2026 Zillow routes users to agents who have paid for access. New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026 Fares are $2, which includes transfer to other Metro Transit routes for up to 2½ hours. Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
Pact routes those materials through specialized processing, diverting large volumes of material from landfills, said Snider. ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026 How Phantom Shuttle steals your data Socket researchers say Phantom Shuttle routes all your web traffic through proxy servers controlled by the attacker. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Jan. 2026 This underwater infrastructure quietly routes 95-99% of internet traffic, depending on the estimate, and are both complex to install and critical to the functioning of the web. PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2025 Our ReturnsDirect solution routes items directly from the customer to nonprofit, skipping the warehouse and eliminating the costs associated with that end of the supply chain. Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 27 Oct. 2025 The web page now routes users to the university’s Center for Connection Culture. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2025 LanzaTech’s process routes industrial gases into special bioreactors containing anaerobic bacteria which consume carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen and produce ethanol, using a fermentation process similar to that of yeast. Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Consumption is up 30% this year, with passengers on the London, Paris, Sydney, and Moscow routes the biggest consumers. Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2025 The new semiconductor design instantly routes dangerous currents away, preventing the explosive electrical arcs that can occur when mechanical breakers fail on DC lines. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for routes
Noun
  • Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Crowds also jammed the surrounding roads and beaches, reminiscent of the Apollo moonshots in the 1960s and ’70s.
    Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Many states treat these bikes like motorcycles, so they’re not allowed on sidewalks or paths, but in some states there are no specific rules for the ultra-fast bikes.
    Sarah Raza, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The Boston bats erased themselves from the base paths inning after inning.
    Gabrielle Starr, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The best science fiction shows us new ways to see our lives and our times by showing us how both might be otherwise.
    Stephanie Burt, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Those are just some of the ways in which the three elements have become critical for modern manufacturing, including for defense.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • During this in-home or virtual session, a specialist guides a client through their existing wardrobe, helping identify what works, what doesn’t and what’s missing.
    Bailey Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The sales manager who tells a client their request isn't right, then guides them to a better solution.
    Ryan Roslansky Aneesh Raman, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Waymo doesn’t yet operate on Miami highways.
    Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • As Easter approaches, schools are once again asking children to decorate eggs, bonnets or themed crafts to mark the holiday.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Expect to see some scalper prices drop Tuesday as the concert’s start time approaches.
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Understanding this behavior opens new pathways for improving battery design.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Advocates in the deaf community have long criticized the district's separation of its oral and sign language pathways.
    Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Perfectionists Nini and Jane are feeling a bit neurotic, while Darlene Mitchell helpfully steers Juicy to develop a Karen that will lean into her strengths and make Ru laugh.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026
  • In an era in high school sports where boos, jeers, and uncalled-for chants are the status quo, Shelton steers fans to uplift rather than put down.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Routes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/routes. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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