subway

noun

sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā 

: an underground way: such as

a

: a passage under a street (as for pedestrians, power cables, or water or gas mains)

b

: a usually electric underground railway

c

: underpass

subway intransitive verb

Examples of subway in a Sentence

I took the subway to midtown.

No one on the subway seemed to mind how crowded it was.

I've been on both the New York subway and the Underground in London.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are entire genres of social media content built on filming strangers—on the subway, at restaurants, in stores and on the street—without their knowledge or consent. — Ashlee Difuntorum, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Just a subway ride across the city, the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden ($22 at the gate) punches above its weight, showcasing roses, lilacs and other flowers, fruit trees and a water garden. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

The Stadium has four main entry gates, where the lines can overlap and even snake back toward the subway exits. — Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

After rashly stealing a man’s cigarette lighter on the subway, Ingeborg trips while making her getaway, resulting in a tibia fracture that threatens to take her out of commission for months on end. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing subway

• subway train

Rhymes for subway

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway

Kids Definition

subway

noun

sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā 

1

: an underground passage

2

: a usually electric underground railway