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Definition of waynext
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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
Another family with a child at the school was stopped by ICE agents on the way to a prenatal appointment. Emily Witt, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026 Vonn then skied slowly to the finish line, stopping a couple of times on the way down and clutching her left knee. CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
What a potential base camp doesn’t want, but could never say it, is to be picked by an Iran, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Haiti or a tiny nation that is way down the FIFA rankings. Mac Engel february 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026 My shot’s definitely way better. Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for way
Noun
  • Surrounded by vast desert, the long and windy road that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills is dotted with prickly cacti and attractive houses.
    Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
  • This combination of road salt and brine helps to prevent the snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, keeping roads from getting too slick and causing car accidents.
    Molly Burford, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • For people managing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease, that combination can push eating habits in the wrong direction.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Runners, instead, should avoid habits like taking them before a race or a hard workout.
    Dan England, Outside, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Investing in domestic mining is necessary but insufficient—recycling infrastructure offers a faster, less geopolitically fraught path to supply chain resilience that has historically been overlooked by previous administrations.
    Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The Buddhist temple was directly in the path of the project, threatening its displacement.
    Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In these cases, crypto prices have demonstrated a historical tendency to benefit.
    Matthew Kayser, Freep.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The team has also shown a tendency to sign former top-100 draft picks heading into a second contract.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • On the mornings her aunt can help, Suzie makes it to my classroom and lights up the room.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
  • After learning that Andrews had an active warrant out of DeKalb County for failure to appear, the officers went to the hotel room to arrest him, according to the agency.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • In logistics, agentic RAG can analyze shipment delays and automatically reschedule routes.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
  • San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan called a play-action pass from under center with a deep route to occupy the safeties and an in-breaking route through the intermediate area of the field.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • One approach to addressing casualty risks is to design spacecraft to demise entirely, but this exacerbates the atmosphere pollution problem, said Boley.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Deepica and her team have consistently delivered meaningful innovation rooted in inclusivity, while also demonstrating the operational rigor, collaborative approach, and consumer connection needed to scale in prestige retail.
    James Manso, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The living room is anchored by a soaring stone fireplace, which is mirrored in the stone doorways throughout, while the kitchen, framed by large windows that look out on the snowy landscape, includes a banquette for casual meals.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Full of enticing design elements inside and out, the 5,608-square-foot home might have wooed buyers the most with its statement-making fireplaces, lovely wallpapers and tiles, or charming arched doorways and windows.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/way. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.

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