way 1 of 2

noun

ˈwā How to pronounce way (audio)
Definition of waynext
1
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel the town honored the local sports hero by naming after him a short way connecting two shopping centers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in habit
a usual manner of behaving or doing she's set in her ways and is not about to change

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in path
an established course for traveling from one place to another took the regular way to work

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in tendency
an established pattern of behavior that's just his way, so pay him no mind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
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
6
as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves go the same way that the school bus does

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7
as in approach
the means or procedure for doing something figured out the best way to accomplish the task

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8
as in doorway
the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure we came in the back way

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9
as in option
the power, right, or opportunity to choose have it your way

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in distance
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects it's just a little way down the road

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way

2 of 2

adverb

as in very
to a great degree "Oh, I'm just way thrilled to be here!" the pageant contestant gushed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
There are many ways of looking at the story of a person’s life. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026 In this way, sheep are better at facial recognition than people, perhaps even better than Holmes is at ears. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Adverb
Today’s building codes go way beyond what is required for people to live healthy and safe lives, with many provisions the product of lobbying by manufacturers and labor unions. —Michael Schill, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026 Riding in a car just got way more fun, thanks to this exciting and fun game of cards. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for way
  1. road
  2. habit
  3. path
  4. tendency
  5. room
  6. route
  7. approach
  8. doorway
Noun
  • More Americans are hitting the road, boarding flights and taking cruises this Memorial Day, according to AAA.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 13 May 2026
  • Earlier this week, along a desolate stretch of road lined with oil refineries just north of the border between Shandong and Hebei provinces, an awareness of that spotlight seemed palpable.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Definition of road
Noun
  • Harbaugh plans to run a grueling training camp to try to better prepare the Giants for their early season games, but reversing a decade-plus of bad organizational habits and starts might take time.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
  • The Sun forms a cazimi with Mercury in Taurus in your 6th House of Daily Routine, bringing a useful insight around schedules, wellness, work habits, or the way your day is structured.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Definition of habit
Noun
  • That approval came after a letter from the Alliance to Aurora aldermen saying that, after meetings with Laesch, there was a path forward for a partnership with the city.
    — R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
  • One of the highlights is the Viaduto do Carvalho, a bridge built along the edge of a mountain with sweeping views over the forest canopy and distant peaks as the train curves along its path.
    — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
Definition of path
Noun
  • And fundamentally, that top-down government solutions have a tendency to stifle bottom-up solutions that can emerge from the voluntary cooperation of free people.
    — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
  • Underlying such obvious acts of aggression lies an insidious tendency for transnational repression to flow from despots into democracies, oppressing lawyers of all nationalities in the process.
    — Irwin Cotler, Time, 8 May 2026
Definition of tendency
Noun
  • Ouija boards were enshrined in glass cases throughout the room; periodically, a small silver bell tolled without warning, moving as though on its own.
    — Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • Each of the treatment rooms is named for a different flower or herb, and inside, that specific fragrance fills the space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
Definition of room
Noun
  • Does White’s misfortune offer Alexander-Arnold a route back?
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • United offers the most diversified international route network among US airlines based on the number of international destinations served and is proud to offer a specialized travel product designed for the entertainment industry.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Definition of route
Noun
  • Some are backing away from exclusionary discipline like suspensions and expulsions and have embraced schoolwide approaches that reward positive behavior and provide social skills practice through games and role-playing.
    — Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
  • Suzuki and Detmers both felt the walks were more a product of the Blue Jays’ approach than his control.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Definition of approach
Noun
  • Now a parish church, the original Norman doorway remains.
    — Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 May 2026
  • But most of her extended conversations on campus were either with the administrator, Val, or with the custodian, a man named Hank who liked to park himself in her office doorway and expostulate about the upcoming hunting season.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Definition of doorway

Phrases Containing way

Browse Nearby Words

waxy
way
wayfarer
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Cite this Entry

“Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/way. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of way for Spanish Speakers

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