street

1 of 2

noun

ˈstrēt 

1

a

: a thoroughfare especially in a city, town, or village that is wider than an alley or lane and that usually includes sidewalks

b

: the part of a street reserved for vehicles

c

: a thoroughfare with abutting property

lives on a fashionable street

2

: the people occupying property on a street

the whole street knew about the accident

3

: a promising line of development or a channeling of effort

a crafty politician working both sides of the street

success through compromise is a two-way street

4

capitalized

a

: a district (such as Wall Street or Fleet Street) identified with a particular profession

b

: the people who work in such a district

doing better than the Street expected

5

: an environment (as in a depressed neighborhood or section of a city) of poverty, dereliction, or crime

grew up on the mean streets

street

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to the streets: such as

a

: adjoining or giving access to a street

the street door

b

: carried on or taking place in the street

street fighting

c

: living or working on the streets

a street peddler

street people

d

: located in, used for, or serving as a guide to the streets

a street map

e

: performing in or heard on the street

a street band

f(1)

: suitable for wear or use on the street

street clothes

(2)

: not touching the ground

—used of a woman's dress in lengths reaching the knee, calf, or ankle

g

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the street environment

street drugs

used … his new street cred to develop contacts

—Dale Keiger

2

: retail

the street price

Phrases

on the street or in the street

1

: idle, homeless, or out of a job

2

: out of prison : at liberty

up one's street or down one's street

: suited to one's abilities or taste

Synonyms

Noun

• arterial
• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• carriageway [British]
• drag
• drive
• expressway
• freeway
• high road
• highway
• pass
• pike
• road
• roadway
• route
• row
• thoroughfare
• thruway
• trace
• turnpike
• way

Examples of street in a Sentence

Noun

They live on a busy street.

You should look both ways before crossing the street.

The police car cruised up the street.

Many of our customers walk in off the street without having heard of us before.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two Mediterranean-style homes sit on this generous plot in the San Fernando Valley, and David is hunkered down in the one closest to the street, which houses the couple’s production company, Yoruba Saxon, its name a nod to their respective cultural heritages. —Jen Wang, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2024

Southeast Asian cities are big and messy, with narrow streets and roads that aren’t clearly signposted. —Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 27 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English strete, from Old English strǣt, from Late Latin strata paved road, from Latin, feminine of stratus, past participle — more at stratum

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing street

• across the street
• civvy street
• cloud street
• down one's street
• down the street
• easy street
• high street
• hit the street
• in the street
• live on the street(s)
• man in the street
• man on the street
• off-street
• on easy street
• on the street
• side street
• street clothes
• street corner
• street cred
• street date
• street fighter
• street food
• street hockey
• street level
• street people
• street railway
• street-smart
• street smarts
• street talk
• street theater
• the man in the street
• through street
• two-way street
• up one's street
• up someone's street
• up the street
• woman of the street
• word on the street

Kids Definition

street

1 of 2 noun

ˈstrēt 

1

a

: a public way especially in a city, town, or village usually including sidewalks and being wider than an alley or lane

b

: the part of a street reserved for vehicles

c

: a public way with the property along it

lived on Maple Street

2

: the people occupying property on a street

the whole street was excited

street

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to the street or streets

a street door

a street map

street clothes

2

: of or relating to the environment of the street

street people

Etymology

Noun

Old English strǣt "street," from Latin strata "paved road," derived from earlier stratus, past participle of sternere "to spread out"