way

adverbinformal

UK /weɪ/

1
by a large amount or distance
way above/over/under:
The cost of a new car is way above my means.
way ahead/beyond/behind/back/off:
Michael was way ahead of the other runners.
Dan saw a plane way off in the distance.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe large amounts and quantities
substantial
considerable
extensive
2
mainly Americanvery
We were way tired after the hike.
Synonyms and related words
Very and very much
very
particularly
deeply

phrases

way back

way

adverbinformal

US /weɪ/

1
very
We were way tired after the hike.
Dad will be way mad if we’re late.
Synonyms and related words
Very and very much
very
particularly
deeply
2
by a large amount or distance
way above/over/under:
The cost of a new car is way above my means.
way ahead/beyond/behind/back/off:
Michael was way ahead of the other runners.
Dan saw a plane way off in the distance.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe large amounts and quantities
substantial
considerable
extensive

phrases

way back

way

noun countable

UK /weɪ/

Word Forms

singular	way
plural	ways

1
a method for doing something
way (that):
There are so many delicious ways you can prepare chicken.
way of doing something:
Is there any way of contacting you while you’re in Africa?
way to do something:
The students are learning new ways to communicate in writing.
Synonyms and related words
Systems and methods for doing things
modality
method
system
1. 1a
  the manner or style in which something happens or is done
  way (that):
  I love to watch the way she plays with the children.
  no way to do something (=not the right thing to do):
  That’s no way to talk to your mother.
  Synonyms and related words
  Systems and methods for doing things
  modality
  method
  system
2. 1b
  someone’s individual manner of behaving or speaking
  someone’s way of doing something:
  Have you noticed her irritating way of interrupting when you talk?
  change your ways (=behave much better):
  Greg has really changed his ways since he went to prison.
  in someone’s own way (=a style of doing something that is not obvious to other people):
  In his own way he really is trying to help.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for behaviour and attitudes
  default setting
  behaviour
  instinct
3. 1c
  what someone wants to do or how they want to behave
  get/have your (own) way (=be allowed to have or do what you want):
  The government are unlikely to get their way on this issue.
  go your own way (=behave in an independent manner):
  His parents must realize that he will soon go his own way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Purposes and intentions
  purpose
  role
  goal
See alsoeasy
See alsohard
See alsowill
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with way
▪ best, cheapest, easiest, quickest, safest, simplest, surest
2
a particular aspect of something, or a particular attitude towards something
It’s not right, whichever way you think about it.
in more ways than one (=from many aspects):
The evening was a great success, in more ways than one.
in a way (=from one point of view):
In a way, I agree with you.
in many ways:
In many ways it was a difficult and painful year.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
1. 2a
  if you share or divide something several ways, you give parts of it to several people
  Let’s split the money three ways.
  Synonyms and related words
  A share of something
  moiety
  share
  proportion
3
the particular road, path, or track that you use to go from one place to another
I don’t think this is the right way.
way to:
Is this the way to the Eiffel Tower?
show/tell someone the way:
Could you please show me the way to the temple?
know the way:
Does Tim know the way to your house from here?
lose your way (=become lost while going to a place):
The tourists lost their way and had to ask for directions.
across the way (=on the other side of the street etc):
There’s a petrol station just across the way.
Synonyms and related words
Booking on and travelling by transport
aboard
afloat
aisle seat
1. 3a
  the direction in which something is standing or moving
  The bathroom is this way.
  Rachel just looked the other way.
  Look both ways before crossing the road.
  The car was going the wrong way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Direction and ways of getting to a place
  direction
  detour
  path
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for the position or direction of an object
  geo-
  position
  direction
2. 3b
  the journey or distance from one place to another
  There was still a little way to go.
  all the/this/that way:
  You came all this way just to see me?
  The children were arguing all the way home.
  Synonyms and related words
  Specific types of distance
  climb
  depth
  the depths of something
3. 3c
  a period of time
  A decision would still be a long way in the future.
  Synonyms and related words
  General periods of time
  a clear run
  a page in something’s history
  block
4. 3d
  
  Way
  used in the name of streets
  on the corner of Garden Street and Admiral Way
  Synonyms and related words
  Streets where people live
  Ave
  Avenue
  backstreet
See alsolead
See alsoright of way
4
a method of going into or out of a place
Tell them to leave by the back way.
Synonyms and related words
Entrances, exits and gateways
access
arch
archway
1. 4a
  a method of making progress
  force your way into (=use force to get into a place):
  The crowd forced their way into the building.
  not stand/get in someone’s way (=not prevent someone from doing what they want):
  I won’t stand in your way if you’re really determined.
  Synonyms and related words
  Systems and methods for doing things
  modality
  method
  system
5
the area or position in which a place is
They live out Cambridge way.
Synonyms and related words
General words for location and place
place
location
setting
1. 5a
  the space or area that a person is using at a particular time
  be/get in the way (=be in the same place as someone, making it difficult for them to do things):
  You’ll get in the way if you stay in the kitchen.
  be/get in someone’s way:
  Can I move the books? They’re in my way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Space and amounts of space
  accommodation
  air pocket
  break
6
a situation or condition
Synonyms and related words
General words for situations and circumstances
situation
circumstance
conditions
7
way to go
used ironically to say that someone did something bad
Way to go - you broke my favorite vase!
Submitted by:
Caleb Judy from United States on 10/07/2019
Open Dictionary - July2019
8
way back when
informal
a long time ago
They met way back when on a school trip.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 16/08/2019
Open Dictionary - August2019

phrases

all the way

be/get/keep out of the/someone’s way

be in a bad way

be on the/its way

be on the way up

be on your way

the best way forward

by a long way

by the way

by way of something

come someone’s way

down/up/over etc someone’s way

either way

get in the way of something

get into the way of doing something

get something out of the way

give way

go a way towards something

go back a long way

go out of your way to do something

have it both ways

have a way of doing something

have a way with

in a big way

in no/not in any way, shape, or form

in the way of

know your way around (something)

no two ways about it

no way

on/along the way

one way or another

on the/your way

out of your way

the right/wrong/other way (round/up)

that’s/it’s always the way

to my way of thinking

a way off

way to go

that’s the way

way out/around

the way to go

a way into publishing/medicine/journalism etc

ways and means

the way things are

way

noun countable

US /weɪ/

Word Forms

singular	way
plural	ways

1
a method for doing something
way (that):
There are so many delicious ways you can prepare chicken.
way of doing something:
Is there any way of contacting you while you’re in Africa?
way to do something:
The students are learning new ways to communicate in writing.
Synonyms and related words
Systems and methods for doing things
modality
method
system
1. 1a
  the manner or style in which something happens or is done
  way (that):
  I love to watch the way she plays with the children.
  no way to do something (=not the right thing to do):
  That’s no way to talk to your mother.
  Synonyms and related words
  Systems and methods for doing things
  modality
  method
  system
2. 1b
  someone’s individual manner of behaving or speaking
  someone’s way of doing something:
  Have you noticed her irritating way of interrupting when you talk?
  change your ways (=behave much better):
  Greg has really changed his ways since he went to jail.
  in someone’s own way (=a style of doing something that is not obvious to other people):
  In his own way he really is trying to help.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for behavior and attitudes
  default setting
  behavior
  instinct
3. 1c
  what someone wants to do or how they want to behave
  get/have your way (=be allowed to have or do what you want):
  The governor is unlikely to get his way on this issue.
  go your own way (=behave in an independent manner):
  His parents must realize that he will soon go his own way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Purposes and intentions
  purpose
  role
  goal
See alsoeasy
See alsohard
See alsowill
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with way
▪ best, cheapest, easiest, quickest, safest, simplest, surest
2
the particular road, path, or track that you use to go from one place to another
I don’t think this is the right way.
way to:
Is this the way to the Eiffel Tower?
show/tell someone the way:
Could you please show me the way to the temple?
know the way:
Does Tim know the way to your house from here?
lose your way (=become lost while going to a place):
The tourists lost their way and had to ask for directions.
across the way (=on the other side of the street, etc.):
There’s a gas station just across the way.
Synonyms and related words
Booking on and traveling by transport
aboard
afloat
aisle seat
1. 2a
  the direction in which something is standing or moving
  The bathroom is this way.
  Rachel just looked the other way.
  Look both ways before crossing the road.
  The car was going the wrong way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Direction and ways of getting to a place
  direction
  approach
  path
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for the position or direction of an object
  geo-
  position
  direction
2. 2b
  the trip or distance from one place to another
  There was still a little way to go.
  all the/this/that way:
  You came all this way just to see me?
  The children were arguing all the way home.
  Synonyms and related words
  Specific types of distance
  carry
  climb
  depth
3. 2c
  a period of time
  A decision would still be a long way in the future.
  Synonyms and related words
  General periods of time
  a clear run
  a page in something’s history
  block
4. 2d
  
  Way
  used in the name of streets
  on the corner of Garden Street and Admiral Way
  Synonyms and related words
  Streets where people live
  Ave.
  Avenue
  backstreet
See alsolead
See alsoright of way
3
a method of going into or out of a place
Tell them to leave by the back way.
Synonyms and related words
Entrances, exits and gateways
access
arch
archway
1. 3a
  a method of making progress
  not stand/get in someone’s way (=not prevent someone from doing what they want):
  I won’t stand in your way if you’re really determined.
  force your way into (=use force to get into a place):
  The crowd forced their way into the building.
  Synonyms and related words
  Systems and methods for doing things
  modality
  method
  system
4
the area or position in which a place is
They live out Chicago way.
Synonyms and related words
General words for location and place
place
location
setting
1. 4a
  the space or area that a person is using at a particular time
  be/get in the way (=be in the same place as someone, making it difficult for them to do things):
  You’ll get in the way if you stay in the kitchen.
  be/get in someone’s way:
  Can I move the books? They’re in my way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Space and amounts of space
  air pocket
  break
  clearance
5
a situation or condition
Synonyms and related words
General words for situations and circumstances
situation
circumstance
conditions
6
a particular aspect of something, or a particular attitude toward something
It’s not right, whichever way you think about it.
in more ways than one (=from many aspects):
The evening was a great success, in more ways than one.
in a way (=from one point of view):
In a way, I agree with you.
Synonyms and related words
Features and qualities
feature
quality
factor
1. 6a
  if you share or divide something several ways, you give parts of it to several people
  Let’s split the money three ways.
  Synonyms and related words
  A share of something
  share
  portion
  slice
7
way to go
used ironically to say that someone did something bad
Way to go - you broke my favorite vase!
Submitted by:
Caleb Judy from United States on 10/07/2019
Open Dictionary - July2019
8
way back when
informal
a long time ago
They met way back when on a school trip.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 16/08/2019
Open Dictionary - August2019

phrases

all the way

be on the/its way

the best way forward

by a long way

by the way

by way of something

come someone’s way

get in the way of something

get something out of the way

give way

go a (long) way/ways toward something

go back a long way

go out of your way to do something

have a way of doing something

have a way with

in a big way

in no/not in any way, shape, or form

in the way of

know your way around (something)

no two ways about it

no way

that’s/it’s always the way

to my way of thinking

a way(s) off

way to go

one way or another

that’s the way

way out/around

the way to go

ways and means

either way

have it both ways

be on the way up

be on your way

on/along the way

on the/your way

out of your way

the right/wrong/other way (around/up)

a way into publishing/medicine/journalism etc.

be/get/keep out of the/someone’s way

down/up/over etc. someone’s way

be in a bad way

the way things are

way

way

way ​‌‌‌

Way

way to go

way back when

way ​‌‌‌

Way

way to go

way back when

way

way