road
o
Road (noun) means a paved or surfaced route built for vehicles and pedestrians to travel between places. Example: “They drove for hours down a winding mountain road.”
noun
1
A paved or surfaced route built for vehicles and pedestrians to travel between places.
"They drove for hours down a winding mountain road."
"The council is repaving the main road through town."
"Please look both ways before you cross the road."
2
A path or course followed in life, business, or a project.
"It's been a long road to recovery after the injury."
"She is on the road to becoming a fine musician."
"Learning a language is a long road with many small steps."
How to use road
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA route made for travelling — literally a street or highway, or figuratively a path toward some goal.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
down the road
on the road
road to recovery
hit the road
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Word forms
- Plural
- roads
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They drove for hours down a winding mountain _____.
Etymology
From Old English rad, meaning "a ride" or "journey" — the same root that gives us "raid." The everyday meaning of "a paved way for travel" only became common much later.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for road
See all rhymes for road →Frequently asked questions
What does “road” mean?
The word “road” means a paved or surfaced route built for vehicles and pedestrians to travel between places. In plain terms, a route made for travelling — literally a street or highway, or figuratively a path toward some goal.
How do you pronounce “road”?
“Road” is pronounced o (/ɹod/ in IPA).
How do you use “road” in a sentence?
Here is “road” used in a sentence: “They drove for hours down a winding mountain road.”
What is another word for “road”?
Words with a similar meaning to “road” include frog, frog and toad, marg and street.
What part of speech is “road”?
“Road” is a noun.
Where does the word “road” come from?
The word “road” comes from Old English. From Old English rad, meaning "a ride" or "journey" — the same root that gives us "raid." The everyday meaning of "a paved way for travel" only became common much later.
Is “road” a common word?
“Road” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “road” have?
“Road” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a paved or surfaced route built for vehicles and pedestrians to travel between places.
What is the difference between a road and a street?
A road is any surfaced route that connects two places, including those running through open countryside. A street is a road in a town or city, usually lined with buildings and pavements on both sides. So every street is a road, but a country road is not a street.
What is the difference between a road and a highway?
A road is the general term for any vehicle route. A highway is a major public road built for fast, long-distance travel between towns and cities, often with several lanes. Highways carry heavier, faster traffic, while 'road' covers everything from motorways down to small lanes.
What are the different types of roads?
Roads range from wide motorways and dual carriageways built for speed, through main and A-roads linking towns, down to residential streets, country lanes, and single-track roads. They are usually classified by how much traffic they carry and how fast vehicles are allowed to travel on them.
What is the difference between a road and a path?
A road is surfaced and built for vehicles, wide enough for cars and lorries. A path is a narrow way meant for people on foot, and sometimes cyclists, often unpaved. The key difference is that roads carry motor traffic while paths are chiefly for walking.
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