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noun A2 Elementary Uncommon

motorway

MOH-tuh-way

Motorway (noun) means a major road designed for fast-moving traffic, with no crossroads and limited access points (chiefly British). Example: “Take the motorway and you'll be there in under an hour.”

noun
1
A major road designed for fast-moving traffic, with no crossroads and limited access points (chiefly British).
"Take the motorway and you'll be there in under an hour."
"There's been an accident on the motorway northbound."

How to use motorway

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA high-speed main road built specifically for cars, with no traffic lights or junctions at ground level.

UK vs US

British English says "motorway"; American English calls the equivalent a "freeway," "highway," or "interstate."

Common pairings
motorway services motorway junction drive on the motorway

Word forms

motorways plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Take the _____ and you'll be there in under an hour.

Etymology

From motor + way.

Related words

Rhymes for motorway

See all rhymes for motorway →

Frequently asked questions

What does “motorway” mean?

The word “motorway” means a major road designed for fast-moving traffic, with no crossroads and limited access points (chiefly British). In plain terms, a high-speed main road built specifically for cars, with no traffic lights or junctions at ground level.

How do you pronounce “motorway”?

“Motorway” is pronounced MOH-tuh-way (/ˈməʊtəweɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “motorway” in a sentence?

Here is “motorway” used in a sentence: “Take the motorway and you'll be there in under an hour.”

What part of speech is “motorway”?

“Motorway” is a noun.

Is “motorway” a common word?

“Motorway” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

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