way

Pronunciation: /weɪ/

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Definition of way

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
(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
(ways) the customary behaviour or practices of a group:my years of acclimatization to British ways
the typical manner in which something happens or in which someone or something behaves:he was showing off, as is the way with adolescent boys
a particular aspect of something; a respect:I have changed in every way
[with adjective] a specified condition or state:the family was in a poor way

2a road, track, or path for travelling along: [in place names]:No. 3, Church Way
a course of travel or route taken in order to reach a place:can you tell me the way to Leicester Square?
a specified direction of travel or movement:we just missed another car coming the other way
a means of entry or exit from somewhere, such as a door or gate:I nipped out the back way
(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 figurativethe area’s wine industry still has some way to go to full maturity
a period between one point in time and another:September was a long way off
travel 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!
(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
[with modifier or possessive] informal a particular area or locality:the family’s main estate over Maidenhead way

3 (ways) parts into which something divides or is divided:the national vote split three ways

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

6 (ways) a sloping structure down which a new ship is launched.

adverb

informal

at 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
[as submodifier] chiefly North American much:I was cycling way too fast
[usually as submodifier] US extremely; really (used for emphasis):the guys behind the bar were way cool

Phrases

across (British also over) the way: nearby, especially on the opposite side of the street: he watched the lighted windows of a flat across the way the family from over the way were joining in the argument
be on one's way: have started one’s journey: she telephoned her office to say she was on her way; (in imperative (be) on your way) informal go away:on your way, and stop wasting my time!
by a long way: by a great amount; by far: we were the best team by a long way
by the way: incidentally (used to introduce a new, less important topic):oh, by the way, while you were away I had a message
by way of
come one's way: happen or become available to one:he did whatever jobs came his way
get (or have) one's (own) way: get or do what one wants in spite of opposition: she got her way about going to art school
give way
go all (or the whole) way: continue a course of action to its conclusion: he urged European leaders to go all the way towards full European union; informal have full sexual intercourse with someone: when I was at high school, nice girls didn’t go all the way
go out of one's way: [usually with infinitive] make a special effort to do something:Mrs Mott went out of her way to be courteous to Sara
go one's own way: act independently or as one wishes, especially against contrary advice: you try to tell your children what’s best, but in the end they go their own way
go one's way
have it your (own) way: [in imperative] informal used to indicate angrily that although one disagrees with something said or proposed, one is not going to argue further:have it your way—we’ll go to Princetown
have a way with: have a particular talent for dealing with or ability in:she’s got a way with animals
have a way with one: have a charming and persuasive manner: he had a way with him—I had to admit that
have one's way with: humorous have sexual intercourse with (someone) (typically implying that it is against their better judgement).
in more ways than one: used to indicate that a statement has more than one meaning:Shelley let her hair down in more ways than one
in a way (or in some ways or in one way): to a certain extent (used to reduce the effect of a statement):in some ways television is more challenging than theatre
in the (or one's) way: forming an obstacle or hindrance to movement or action:his head was in the way of my view
in the way of: another way of saying sense 2 phrases above.
in someone/thing's (own) way: if regarded from a particular standpoint appropriate to that person or thing:it’s a good enough book in its way
in no way: not at all: it is in no way an exceptional house
keep (or stay) out of someone's way: avoid someone:he tried to keep out of her way at school
know one's way around (or about): see know.I fear I don’t know my way around the territory well enough to go hunting
lead the way: go first along a route to show someone the way: he led the way at a steady trot; be a pioneer in a particular activity: these companies lead the way in new technological developments
my way or the highway: North American informal said to assert the view that there is no alternative (apart from leaving) but to accept the speaker’s opinions or policies:they know no way but the way of the autocrat—it’s my way or the highway
one way and another (or one way or another)
one way or the other (or one way and another): used to indicate that something is the case for any of various unspecified reasons:one way or another she brought it on herself; by some means:he wants to get rid of me one way or another; whichever of two given alternatives is the case:the question is not yet decided, one way or the other
on the (or one's) way: in the course of a journey:I’ll tell you on the way home
on the (or its) way: about to arrive or happen:there’s more snow on the way; informal (of a child) conceived but not yet born: soon there was another baby on the way
on the (or one's) way out: in the process of leaving: he paused on his way out of the room she picked up her bag on the way out to the car; informal going out of fashion or favour: is the royal family on the way out? Mark knew that he would never be promoted and concluded he must be on his way out; informal dying.
the other way round (or around; British also about): in the opposite position or direction: the door to the hall was hung the other way around from her own; the opposite of what is expected or supposed:it was you who sought me out, not the other way round
out of the way
out of one's way: not on one’s intended route: I got a lift from a Brummie who took me miles out of his way
put someone in the way of: dated give someone the opportunity of: if only she knew someone who might put her in the way of finding a more congenial job
that way: used euphemistically to indicate that someone is homosexual:he was a bit that way
to one's way of thinking: in one’s opinion: that, to his way of thinking, would only make matters worse
way back: informal long ago: Dave had a thing with one of her sisters, way back
the way of the Cross: the journey of Jesus to the place of his crucifixion.; a set of images representing the Stations of the Cross.; the suffering and self-sacrifice of a Christian.
way of life: the typical pattern of behaviour of a person or group:the rural way of life
the way of the world: the manner in which people typically behave or things typically happen:all those millions of pounds are not going to create many jobs, but that’s the way of the world
ways and means: methods and resources for achieving something:the company is seeking ways and means of safeguarding jobs
way to go!: North American informal used to express pleasure, approval, or excitement: a chorus of ‘Nice hit, sir!’ ‘Way to go, sir!’ rang out

Origin:

Old English weg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch weg and German Weg, from a base meaning 'move, carry'

way in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of way in the US English dictionary

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Other

noun

adverb

Phrases

across (British 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 (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 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

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; British also about)

out of the way

out of one's way

put someone in the way of

that way

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:

way in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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