way 1 of 2

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as in room
an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing made way for them to pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves go the same way that the school bus does

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in doorway
the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure we came in the back way

Synonyms & Similar Words

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way

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word way different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of way are fashion, manner, method, mode, and system. While all these words mean "the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end," way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words.

has her own way of doing things

In what contexts can fashion take the place of way?

Although the words fashion and way have much in common, fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something.

rushing about in his typical fashion

How are the words manner and mode related as synonyms of way?

Manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive.

an odd manner of conducting

When would method be a good substitute for way?

The synonyms method and way are sometimes interchangeable, but method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps.

effective teaching methods

Where would mode be a reasonable alternative to way?

The words mode and way are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference.

the preferred mode of transportation

When might system be a better fit than way?

In some situations, the words system and way are roughly equivalent. However, system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness.

a filing system

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 way
Noun
This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2025 During these inspections, travelers may be questioned or their electronic devices looked through as a way to confirm their identity and reasons for being in the U.S. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 May 2025
Adverb
For only $40, the Galaxy A15 5G punches way above its weight. Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 12 May 2025 The online vote, which allows the public to vote for a favorite contestant for $1 per vote, showed Hudson way behind for first place with just over 220 votes at the time of publication. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for way
Noun
  • The match concluded a wild road trip that saw Sporting play three road matches in eight days.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2025
  • Clark helped the Fever snap a seven-year playoff drought as Indiana shattered league records for home attendance, road attendance and total attendance.
    Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • In addition, he’s also made a habit of gathering a handful of players together every night for a dinner at the Cowboys’ members-only speakeasy restaurant on the top level of The Star in Frisco, Cowboys Club.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
  • Standout Interviewee Habits: How to Take Things to the Next Level Deliver a clear personal pitch To stand out from the crowd, Marino-Briggs recommends a few key habits.
    Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Aging is being redefined not as a linear path to decline, but as a modifiable, and in some ways reversible, biological process.
    Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • The Chinese government has put its economy on a path to capturing 45 percent of global manufacturing by 2030, up from just 6 percent in 2000, the U.N. projects; a move that will make China richer and therefore stronger.
    John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • As the graph shows below, Bellingham, like most of Real Madrid midfielders, has a tendency to hold on to the ball, whereas Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen midfield is defined by quick and incisive short passes.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Though moderators control questioning during such forums, too, candidates have a tendency to end up chiming in on each other’s answers when seated next to each other.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Kim eventually found a room in another 5th District home on Jan. 10 and changed her California driver’s registration that same day, according to the complaint.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • The two share a room and sleep in matching twin beds, spending their days shopping for just the right brand of pickles or sunning themselves on the boardwalk.
    Rachel Handler, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • And earlier this week, Italy enacted a law that removes the route to citizenship through great-grandparents.
    Olesya Dmitracova, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
  • Cruise remote trails and rock crawl through iconic routes like one to the hydroelectric power plant at Bridal Veil Falls and Ophir Pass to Alta Lakes and Ghost Town.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Establish a new culture, replacing the emotionless, do-your-job style of Bill Belichick with a more modern, player-friendly approach.
    Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 27 May 2025
  • Apple’s approach to change differs significantly from that of competitors like Google and Samsung.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Inside, three bedrooms and four baths are spread across almost 2,300 square feet of multi-level living space boasting a mix of stone and wide-plank French oak floors, arched doorways, and whitewashed wood-beam ceilings dotted with skylights.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
  • It must be asked not as condemnation, but as a doorway to deeper understanding—of her, of ourselves, and of the social and emotional architecture that keeps so many of us bound in silence, shame, and survival.
    Shayla Brown, Essence, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/way. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

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