way
Way (noun) means a road, path, or route from one place to another. Example: “Can you show me the way to the station?”
How to Use Way
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA path or route, or more broadly, a method, style, or degree of something.
As an intensifier ("way too much," "way better"), "way" is informal — fine in speech but not in formal writing.
Trace the full origin ↓Word Forms
wayed past tense, ways plural, ways plural, ways plural, ways singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Can you show me the _____ to the station?
Etymology
From Old English weġ, an ancient word for "road" or "path" that goes all the way back to a shared Indo-European root also behind Latin vehere ("to carry").
Related Words
Rhymes for way
See all rhymes for way →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “way” mean?
The word “way” means a road, path, or route from one place to another. In plain terms, a path or route, or more broadly, a method, style, or degree of something.
How do you pronounce “way”?
“Way” is pronounced way ([weɪ] in IPA).
How do you use “way” in a sentence?
Here is “way” used in a sentence: “Can you show me the way to the station?”
What part of speech is “way”?
Depending on how it is used, “way” can be a noun and an adverb.
Where does the word “way” come from?
The word “way” comes from Latin. From Old English weġ, an ancient word for "road" or "path" that goes all the way back to a shared Indo-European root also behind Latin vehere ("to carry").
Is “way” a common word?
“Way” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “way” have?
“Way” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a road, path, or route from one place to another.
What is the difference between a way and a road?
A road is a specific paved route built for vehicles. A way is more general — it can be any route, path, or direction you take to reach a place, whether a road, a track, or an open course. Every road is a way, but not every way is a road.
What are the different meanings of way?
As a route, way means the path or course from one place to another, as in 'the way home.' Way also commonly means a method or manner of doing something ('the right way to cook rice') and can indicate distance or direction ('a long way off').
What is an example of way used to mean a route?
'Can you show me the way to the station?' Here way means the route to follow. Other examples include 'We lost our way in the forest' and 'This is the quickest way home,' all referring to the path or course between two places.