noun
Common
alley
AL-ee
Alley (noun) means a narrow passage or street between or behind buildings. Example: “Delivery vans often park in the alley at the back of the shop.”
noun
1
A narrow passage or street between or behind buildings.
"Delivery vans often park in the alley at the back of the shop."
"The cat disappeared down a dark alley."
"They stored the bins in the alley behind the restaurant."
2
A long, narrow lane used for playing games such as bowling.
"Our bowling team booked the alley next to the snack bar."
"She kept her eyes on the pins at the end of the alley."
"He rolled the ball straight down the alley for a strike."
3
A tree-lined walkway or path through a garden or park.
"A gravel alley of lime trees led visitors to the old fountain."
"Children ran along the leafy alley in the park, chasing one another."
"They strolled down a shaded alley of oak trees."
How to use alley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA narrow passage between buildings, or a long straight lane used in games like bowling.
Common pairings
dark alley
back alley
bowling alley
blind alley
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like alley.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- alleys
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Delivery vans often park in the _____ at the back of the shop.
Etymology
From Old French alee, "a going, a walk," from the verb aler, "to go" — the same root that gives French its verb "aller" and English the related word "allée."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for alley
See all rhymes for alley →Frequently asked questions
What does “alley” mean?
The word “alley” means a narrow passage or street between or behind buildings. In plain terms, a narrow passage between buildings, or a long straight lane used in games like bowling.
How do you pronounce “alley”?
“Alley” is pronounced AL-ee (/ˈæl.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “alley” in a sentence?
Here is “alley” used in a sentence: “The cat disappeared down a dark alley.”
What is another word for “alley”?
Words with a similar meaning to “alley” include alleyway, backs, bunnyrun, chare, chore and close.
What part of speech is “alley”?
“Alley” is a noun.
Where does the word “alley” come from?
The word “alley” comes from Old French. From Old French alee, "a going, a walk," from the verb aler, "to go" — the same root that gives French its verb "aller" and English the related word "allée.".
Is “alley” a common word?
“Alley” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “alley” have?
“Alley” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a narrow passage or street between or behind buildings.
What is the difference between an alley and a street?
A street is a public road, usually wide enough for vehicles and lined with buildings, while an alley is a narrow passage running between or behind buildings. Alleys are typically smaller and quieter, used for access or deliveries rather than through traffic.
What is the difference between an alley and a lane?
Both are narrow ways, but an alley is usually a narrow passage between or behind buildings in a town, while a lane can be a narrow country road or a marked division of a wider road. "Alley" is more strongly associated with urban back-passages.
What is a bowling alley?
A bowling alley is the long, narrow lane down which a ball is rolled in the game of bowling, and by extension the building that houses such lanes. This is one of the established senses of "alley," alongside a narrow passage between buildings.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include alley:
