noun
Uncommon
pathway
PAHTH-way
Pathway (noun) means a path or track, especially one leading somewhere specific. Example: “A stone pathway led to the front door.”
noun
1
A path or track, especially one leading somewhere specific.
"A stone pathway led to the front door."
"A narrow pathway winds through the woods down to the lake."
"The children walked along the muddy pathway beside the school fields."
2
A series of chemical reactions in the body, or a planned course of action.
"Scientists mapped the metabolic pathway involved in the disease."
"The government outlined a pathway to citizenship for immigrants."
"The college offers a clear pathway from apprentice to fully qualified engineer."
How to use pathway
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA literal walking track, or a figurative route — a biological process or a planned course toward a goal.
Common pairings
garden pathway
metabolic pathway
pathway to success
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Word forms
- Plural
- pathways
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A stone _____ led to the front door.
Etymology
From Middle English pathwei, a combination of "path" and "way."
Related words
Rhymes for pathway
See all rhymes for pathway →Frequently asked questions
What does “pathway” mean?
The word “pathway” means a path or track, especially one leading somewhere specific. In plain terms, a literal walking track, or a figurative route — a biological process or a planned course toward a goal.
How do you pronounce “pathway”?
“Pathway” is pronounced PAHTH-way (/ˈpæθˌweɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pathway” in a sentence?
Here is “pathway” used in a sentence: “A stone pathway led to the front door.”
What part of speech is “pathway”?
“Pathway” is a noun.
Where does the word “pathway” come from?
The word “pathway” comes from Middle English. From Middle English pathwei, a combination of "path" and "way.".
Is “pathway” a common word?
“Pathway” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pathway” have?
“Pathway” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a path or track, especially one leading somewhere specific.
What is the difference between a pathway and a path?
Pathway and path both describe a track leading somewhere, but pathway often sounds slightly more formal and is commonly used in planned, designed, or figurative contexts, such as "career pathway" or "metabolic pathway." Path is the more general, everyday term for a physical track.
What does pathway mean in a scientific context?
In science, particularly biology, pathway refers to a series of chemical reactions in the body, such as a metabolic pathway that converts one substance into another through several steps. This differs from the physical sense of a track leading somewhere.
What is a common figurative use of pathway?
Pathway is often used figuratively to describe a planned course of action or progression toward a goal, as in "career pathway" or "pathway to citizenship." This extends the literal sense of a physical track into an abstract route toward an outcome.
