highway
0 antonyms and opposites of highway, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A main road, especially a large, fast public road built for long-distance travel.
How to use highway
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English hēahweġ, literally "high way" — a raised, major road built above the surrounding land, distinguished from smaller local tracks.
Full origin of highway →Frequently asked questions
What does “highway” mean?
The word “highway” means a main road, especially a large, fast public road built for long-distance travel. In plain terms, a big, important road meant for fast, long-distance travel.
How do you pronounce “highway”?
“Highway” is pronounced HAHY-wehy (/ˈhaɪweɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “highway” in a sentence?
Here is “highway” used in a sentence: “We took the highway to avoid the city traffic.”
What part of speech is “highway”?
“Highway” is a noun.
Where does the word “highway” come from?
The word “highway” comes from Old English. From Old English hēahweġ, literally "high way" — a raised, major road built above the surrounding land, distinguished from smaller local tracks.
Is “highway” a common word?
“Highway” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “highway” have?
“Highway” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a main road, especially a large, fast public road built for long-distance travel.
What is the difference between a highway and a freeway?
A highway is any major public road for long-distance travel. A freeway, or motorway in Britain, is a specific type of highway with no traffic lights or intersections, using ramps and overpasses so traffic never stops. Every freeway is a highway, but many highways are ordinary roads with junctions.
What is the difference between a highway and a street?
A street is a public road within a town or city, usually lined with buildings and meant for local access. A highway is a larger main road built to carry traffic quickly over long distances between places. Streets serve neighbourhoods; highways connect towns and regions.
What is another word for highway?
In Britain, a large fast highway is a motorway; in the United States and elsewhere, freeway, expressway, interstate and thruway all name similar high-speed roads. More general terms include main road, trunk road and carriageway. The right word often depends on the country.
Why is it called a highway?
The "high" in highway does not mean elevated. It comes from an old sense of "high" meaning main, chief or public — the principal public road, as opposed to minor lanes and byways. The same idea survives in "the high street," the main shopping road of a British town.