street
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for street, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A public road in a town or city, usually lined with buildings.
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 street
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English strēt, an early borrowing from Latin strata ("paved road"), the past participle of a verb meaning "to spread or pave."
Full origin of street →Frequently asked questions
What does “street” mean?
The word “street” means a public road in a town or city, usually lined with buildings. In plain terms, a road in a town lined with houses or shops, or (informally) having tough, real-world savvy.
How do you pronounce “street”?
“Street” is pronounced street (/stɹit/ in IPA).
How do you use “street” in a sentence?
Here is “street” used in a sentence: “They live on a quiet residential street.”
What part of speech is “street”?
Depending on how it is used, “street” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “street” come from?
The word “street” comes from Latin. From Old English strēt, an early borrowing from Latin strata ("paved road"), the past participle of a verb meaning "to spread or pave.".
Is “street” a common word?
“Street” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “street” have?
“Street” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a public road in a town or city, usually lined with buildings.
What is the difference between a street and a road?
A road is any route that connects two places and can run through open country. A street is more specific: a public road in a town or city, usually lined with buildings on both sides. Every street is a road, but not every road is a street — the word street implies a built-up setting.
What is the difference between a street and an avenue?
Traditionally a street runs perpendicular to an avenue, and avenues are often wider, sometimes lined with trees. In practice the distinction is loose and varies by city, with the names chosen more for planning or tradition than any strict rule. Both are public roads within a built-up area.
What are the types of streets?
Common types include the high street or main street, the busy commercial centre of a town; side streets, smaller roads branching off larger ones; cul-de-sacs, which are closed at one end; and back streets, the quieter routes behind main thoroughfares. Each describes a street's size, role, or position in the network.
What does the phrase 'on the street' mean?
Literally it means located on or along a street, but it also carries figurative meanings. 'On the streets' can describe someone who is homeless, while 'street smart' means practical, real-world savvy. The word street often stands in for public, everyday life as opposed to the private or official world.