way
/weɪ
/noun
1A method, style, or manner of doing something; an optional or alternative form of action: I hated their way of cooking potatoes there are two ways of approaching this problem...
- People are going to find a way to enjoy themselves, even if it means breaking the law.
- When we get there we'll find a way to survey the property and figure out a plan of action.
- We had to find a way to help and it was fantastic to be able to do so.
Synonyms
method, course of action, process, procedure, technique, system;
plan, strategy, scheme;
means, mechanism, routine, manner, approach, route, road;
Latin modus operandi
1.1 (one's way) One’s characteristic or habitual manner of behaviour or expression: it was not his way to wait passively for things to happen...
- God's ways are not our ways, and God's methods are not always our methods.
- They challenge human standards, because God's ways are not our ways.
- I hope it results in them changing their ways and showing greater respect to other cultures.
Synonyms
manner, style, fashion, mode, method
practice, wont, habit, custom, characteristic, policy, procedure, convention, fashion, use, routine, rule;
trait, attribute, mannerism, peculiarity, idiosyncrasy, oddity;
conduct, behaviour, manner, style, nature, personality, temperament, disposition, character;
Latin modus operandi, modus vivendi
formal praxis
1.2 (ways) The customary behaviour or practices of a group: my years of acclimatization to British ways...
- They remained determined to practise the ways of their ancestors.
- Morgana was happy to see that some people still respected the old ways and the reign that was so rightly hers.
- With a large British community living in Cyprus the hospitable islanders are well used to British ways.
1.3The typical manner in which something happens or in which someone or something behaves: he was showing off, as is the way with adolescent boys...
- I just rang my brother to ask his advice but, as is always the way when you really want to speak to someone, he's out!
- Perhaps this has always been the way and the public was just more naive then.
- That's always the way when an accomplished team gets into that position of strength.
1.4A particular aspect of something; a respect: I have changed in every way...
- It was also a serious step because we know both Bob and Kate to some degree and respect them in many ways.
- Although the book is excellent in many ways, some aspects of it are troubling.
- On the one hand, those are things we still respect in many ways.
Synonyms
aspect, regard, facet, respect;
sense, feature, detail, point, particular, characteristic, question, connection
1.5 [with adjective] A specified condition or state: the family was in a poor way...
- So clearly if he's alive, he's in a bad way.
- The vessel is in a poor way and its listing is getting worse.
Synonyms
state, condition, situation, circumstances, position;
predicament, plight
informal shape
2A road, track, or path for travelling along: [in place names]: No. 3, Church Way...
- The West Highland Way is second only to the Pennine Way in the hall of fame of British long-distance footpaths.
- At the end of the road turn left and continue along Drovers' Way and the property to be sold is the last house on the left-hand side.
- At this time it is unclear as to whether the Walton Way was a salt way or rather the best route to a convenient crossing of the Trent.
2.1A course of travel or route taken in order to reach a place: can you tell me the way to Leicester Square?...
- A Scottish cycle route sign pointed the way and we decided to take some pictures.
- The red dots of paint with which Cretan walkers have marked the way are not always easy to spot.
- Police sealed off main roads along the way to allow the protesters to march through.
Synonyms
road, roadway, street, thoroughfare, track, path, pathway, lane, avenue, drive, channel;
route, course, direction
2.2A specified direction of travel or movement: we just missed another car coming the other way...
- Sadly, the man wasn't going our way but he was very friendly.
- I peeked across the cafeteria toward Emmett, grateful that he wasn't looking my way.
- Which way was he facing?
Synonyms
direction, bearing, course, orientation, line, run, tack
2.3A means of entry or exit from somewhere, such as a door or gate: I nipped out the back way...
- ‘Tell you what though, there's a couple of flashlights in the control room. We'll pop out the back way, grab them and come back and give you a hand!’
- That evening, when Gary was done closing up for the night, he bid Mr. McCullough goodbye, stepped out the back way, mounted his bike, and headed home.
- There is a second way in at the back.
Synonyms
door, doorway, gate, exit, entrance, entry, portal;
route
2.4 (also North American informal ways) A distance travelled or to be travelled; the distance from one place to another: they still had a long way ahead of them figurative the area’s wine industry still has some way to go to full maturity...
- It was a ways off in the distance and it was hard to get an estimate as to how far away it was.
- A short while later they where standing on a hill with the city a short ways behind them.
- I walked a little ways back up the drive and paced back and forth under the chestnut tree.
Synonyms
distance, length, stretch, journey, extent;
space, interval, span, gap, separation
2.5A period between one point in time and another: September was a long way off...
- So, as long as we've got them, we don't have to worry about William becoming king, because that's quite a long way off.
- Spring is a long way off.
- It seemed such a long way off, and now, suddenly, the wedding is imminent.
Synonyms
period of time, time, stretch, term, span, duration
2.6Travel or motion along a particular route; the route along which someone or something would travel if unobstructed: Christine tried to follow but Martin blocked her way that table’s in the way get out of my way!...
- Travelling at the same speed as lorries, we lost count of the number trying to bully us out of their way.
- While it's uncertain whether the protest and subsequent meeting will prevent cuts, the way the governor's staff handled the whole affair is instructive: I'm told that technically they could have been arrested for blocking the way.
- That is why I was standing in the way at the door.
2.7 (one's way) Used with a verb and adverbial phrase to intensify the force of an action or to denote movement or progress: I shouldered my way to the bar...
- Bradford is clawing its way up the recycling ladder.
- I wend my way through the crowd before the artist interview begins.
- Adam wormed his way through the crowd to his hut.
2.8 [with modifier or possessive] informal A particular area or locality: the family’s main estate over Maidenhead way...
- Hey, you know Sellersville isn't all that far from Philly, for anyone who's down that way, and I will be there too.
- I really value the comments from the people who live up that way.
- Hes over Bristol way to see about some wrought iron.
Synonyms
locality, neighbourhood, area, district, locale, quarter, community, region, zone, part
informal neck of the woods, parts
British informal manor
North American informal hood, nabe
3 (ways) Parts into which something divides or is divided: the national vote split three ways...
- Under the scheme, the cost of the property would be divided three ways between the buyer, a bank or building society and Government.
- Policymakers at the Bank of England were split three ways for the second consecutive month when they held interest rates at 5% two weeks ago.
4 formal or Scottish A person’s occupation or line of business.
5 [mass noun] Forward motion or momentum of a ship or boat through water: the dinghy lost way and drifted towards the shore...
- Children under the age of 10 must wear a specified personal flotation device at all times on any vessel when the vessel is under way and they are in an open area of the vessel.
- The vessel under way is bound to keep clear of another at anchor.
6 (ways) A sloping structure down which a new ship is launched.It was a favorite vantage point from which many of them had watched many other Bath Iron Works ships slide down the ways....
- So the bottle would have had to be broken on her bow to send her down the ways on that day.
adverb informal
1At or to a considerable distance or extent; far (used before an adverb or preposition for emphasis): his understanding of what constitutes good writing is way off target my grandchildren are way ahead of others their age...
- The ball is rolled to Baxter who has a pop from a distance and shoots way over the bar.
- This has changed, and the grey bar now heads way off to the right of the screen.
- She can also smoke, drink and indulge way beyond the limits of human endurance.
1.1 [as submodifier] chiefly North American Much: I was cycling way too fast...
- If he is moving along too fast or seems to like you way more than you like him, let him go.
- They find it hard to charge for their services; they usually give way more than they ask for, and this means they scrape by.
- You should just become a rocker; it would be easier to explain and looks way cooler.
1.2 [usually as submodifier] US Extremely; really (used for emphasis): the guys behind the bar were way cool...
- I wanted to pay some appreciation to some way cool blog people - I don't know these people beyond the blog, but I appreciate their presence around here!
- ‘Dad, you never told me we had any way cool relatives!’
Phrases
across (also over) the way
be on one's way
by a long way
by the way
by way of
come one's way
get (or have) one's (own) way
give way
go all the (or the whole) way
go out of one's way
go one's own way
go one's way
have it your (own) way
have a long way to go
have a way with
have a way with one
have one's way with
in more ways than one
in a way (or in some ways or in one way)
in the (or one's) way
in the way of
in someone/thing's (own) way
in no way
keep (or stay) out of someone's way
know one's way around (or about)
lead the way
make one's way
my way or the highway
one way and another (or one way or another)
one way or the other (or one way and another)
on the (or one's) way
on the (or its) way
on the (or one's) way out
the other way round (or around; also about)
out of the way
out of one's way
put someone in the way of
stand in the way of
that way (inclined)
to one's way of thinking
way back
the way of the Cross
way of life
the way of the world
ways and means
way to go!
Origin
Old English weg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch weg and German Weg, from a base meaning 'move, carry'.