road
10 synonyms and 0 antonyms for road, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A paved or surfaced route built for vehicles and pedestrians to travel between places.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use road
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English rad, meaning "a ride" or "journey" — the same root that gives us "raid." The everyday meaning of "a paved way for travel" only became common much later.
Full origin of road →Frequently asked questions
What does “road” mean?
The word “road” means a paved or surfaced route built for vehicles and pedestrians to travel between places. In plain terms, a route made for travelling — literally a street or highway, or figuratively a path toward some goal.
How do you pronounce “road”?
“Road” is pronounced o (/ɹod/ in IPA).
How do you use “road” in a sentence?
Here is “road” used in a sentence: “They drove for hours down a winding mountain road.”
What is another word for “road”?
Words with a similar meaning to “road” include frog, frog and toad, marg and street.
What part of speech is “road”?
“Road” is a noun.
Where does the word “road” come from?
The word “road” comes from Old English. From Old English rad, meaning "a ride" or "journey" — the same root that gives us "raid." The everyday meaning of "a paved way for travel" only became common much later.
Is “road” a common word?
“Road” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “road” have?
“Road” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a paved or surfaced route built for vehicles and pedestrians to travel between places.
What is the difference between a road and a street?
A road is any surfaced route that connects two places, including those running through open countryside. A street is a road in a town or city, usually lined with buildings and pavements on both sides. So every street is a road, but a country road is not a street.
What is the difference between a road and a highway?
A road is the general term for any vehicle route. A highway is a major public road built for fast, long-distance travel between towns and cities, often with several lanes. Highways carry heavier, faster traffic, while 'road' covers everything from motorways down to small lanes.
What are the different types of roads?
Roads range from wide motorways and dual carriageways built for speed, through main and A-roads linking towns, down to residential streets, country lanes, and single-track roads. They are usually classified by how much traffic they carry and how fast vehicles are allowed to travel on them.
What is the difference between a road and a path?
A road is surfaced and built for vehicles, wide enough for cars and lorries. A path is a narrow way meant for people on foot, and sometimes cyclists, often unpaved. The key difference is that roads carry motor traffic while paths are chiefly for walking.