adverb
Very common
miles
mylz
Miles (adverb) means (informal) By a large margin; a lot — used to strengthen a comparison. Example: “Her new bike is miles faster than my old rusty one.”
adverb
1
(informal) By a large margin; a lot — used to strengthen a comparison.
"Her new bike is miles faster than my old rusty one."
"This new laptop is miles better than my old one."
"She finished the race miles ahead of everyone else."
How to use miles
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed before a comparative like "better" or "ahead" to mean "by a huge amount."
When to use it
Informal — fine in speech and casual writing, but avoid in formal reports ("significantly better" instead).
Common pairings
miles better
miles ahead
miles away from
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Her new bike is _____ faster than my old rusty one.
Etymology
An informal extension of the noun mile (from Old English mīl, from Latin mīlia, "a thousand paces") — the sense of physical distance stretched into a figure of speech for "by a wide margin."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for miles
See all rhymes for miles →Frequently asked questions
What does “miles” mean?
The word “miles” means (informal) By a large margin; a lot — used to strengthen a comparison. In plain terms, used before a comparative like "better" or "ahead" to mean "by a huge amount.".
How do you pronounce “miles”?
“Miles” is pronounced mylz (/maɪlz/ in IPA).
How do you use “miles” in a sentence?
Here is “miles” used in a sentence: “This new laptop is miles better than my old one.”
What part of speech is “miles”?
“Miles” is an adverb.
Where does the word “miles” come from?
The word “miles” comes from Latin. An informal extension of the noun mile (from Old English mīl, from Latin mīlia, "a thousand paces") — the sense of physical distance stretched into a figure of speech for "by a wide margin.".
Is “miles” a common word?
“Miles” is a very common word in modern English.
What does 'miles better' mean?
'Miles better' means far better, by a large margin. Here 'miles' is used informally as an intensifier, not as a unit of distance — the phrase has nothing to do with actual miles. If one option is miles better than another, it is much, much better, and the gap between them is large.
Is using 'miles' to mean 'a lot' formal or informal?
It is informal and conversational, common in British English especially. You would say 'miles easier' or 'miles ahead' with friends or in casual writing, but in formal reports you would choose 'far,' 'considerably,' or 'significantly' instead. As an intensifier, 'miles' adds a relaxed, emphatic, slightly exaggerated feel.
What is the difference between 'miles better' and 'much better'?
Both strengthen a comparison, but they differ in force and tone. 'Much better' is neutral and works everywhere. 'Miles better' is informal and stronger, suggesting a really large gap — even further than 'much.' You would use 'miles' for emphasis in casual speech, and 'much' in more formal or measured writing.
What is an example of 'miles' used to mean 'a lot'?
It appears before a comparative word to stretch it: 'The new phone is miles faster,' 'She's miles ahead of the rest,' 'This café is miles nicer than the last one.' In each case 'miles' means by a wide margin — a casual, emphatic way of saying far or much.
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