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| way [ way ] |
noun (plural ways) |
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| Definition: |
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1. manner or method: a means, manner, or method of doing something
  I'll do it my way.
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2. respect: a feature, aspect, or example of something
In some ways, they're very similar.
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3. path: a path or physical means of getting from one place to another
The way out is through here.
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4. door or opening: a door or opening leading or providing access to or from somewhere
came in the front way
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5. journey or route: a journey or the route followed or to be followed
on my way home
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6. progress through life: progress or a path through life and its experiences or difficulties
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7. street: a street
(
often used in place names
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8. direction: a direction, e.g. left, right, up, or down
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9. manner of placing: the manner in which something is placed, packed, or arranged, or the direction it faces
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10. space for action: path, room, territory, or space allowing movement, progress, or action
got out of the way
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11. area: an area or district, e.g. around somebody's home
(
informal
)
out our way
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12. distance: a distance away in space or time
a long way off
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13. amount: the extent or amount to which somebody does something or to which something happens
He's fallen for her in a big way.
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14. part of something: each of a particular number of parts into which something divides or is split
split the money four ways
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15. condition: the state or condition of somebody or something, especially with regard to health or finances
He's in a bad way.
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16. preference: something that somebody wants to do or to happen
always wants his own way
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17. tradition or custom: the customary practice of a person or group
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18. typical occurrence: the usual occurrence or pattern of events
It's always the way when you're in a hurry.
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19. mechanical engineering guide or support: a surface used to guide or provide support for moving parts of a machine tool such as a lathe
(
often used in the plural
)
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adverb |
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| Definition: |
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1. very much: to a considerable degree or at a considerable distance
(
informal
)
way out of our price range
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2. very: extremely
(
slang
)
That's way cool!
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| [ Old English weg< Indo-European, "to go"] |
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by the way used to introduce something that is not strictly part of the subject at hand
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by way of something as a means of or for the purpose of something
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every which way
1. in all directions
2. in every way possible (informal)
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give way
1. to become useless, break, or otherwise fail, especially under weight or pressure or from age or wear
2. transportationto slow down or stop in order to let another vehicle pass
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give way to somebody or something to be replaced or superseded by somebody or something
The rain gave way to patchy sunshine.
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give way to something to be overcome by an emotion that you have been trying to resist
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go out of your way to do something to make an exceptional effort or take exceptional steps in order to do something
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have a way with somebody or something to be good at dealing with somebody or something
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have it both ways to have the benefits of opposing situations or actions
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in a way from a certain point of view
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(in) the worst way very much, very badly, or very intensely
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lead the way
1. to go first, especially in order to show others where to go
2. to do something first and so set others an example
leading the way in new technology
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make way (for somebody or something) to move aside in order to make room for somebody or something
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make your way
1. to go somewhere, especially when getting there requires overcoming some obstacle, e.g. finding the route or some transportation
2. to become successful
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nine ways from Sunday U.S. in every possible way and to the greatest extent (informal)
The potential cross-examination questions were covered nine ways from Sunday during pretrial preps.
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no way used as an emphatic negative (informal)
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out of the way in a remote location
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pay your way to pay your share of expenses
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see your way (clear) to doing something to be willing and able to oblige somebody by doing something
Could you see your way clear to lending me $100?
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there are no two ways about it there is no room for dispute
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way to go used to congratulate somebody on something that he or she has done (informal)
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| Spelling Note |
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way, weigh, or whey? Do not confuse the spelling of way, weigh, and whey, which sound similar. Way is a noun in frequent use, with meanings including "means, manner, or method," "journey or route," and "direction," as in a different way to do it, on the way home, going the wrong way. Weigh is a verb meaning "find out the weight of something," "be of a particular weight," or "consider or evaluate something," as in weigh the ingredients, weighs five pounds, weigh up the pros and cons. Whey is a much less usual noun denoting the watery liquid that separates from the solid part of milk, as in curds and whey.
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| Word Usage |
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Way or ways?
The plural noun ways is informally used in place of way in expressions such as a long ways to go down this old trail;a long ways to go to capture the tennis title. Such usages are not appropriate in formal speaking and writing: Researchers have a long way [not ways] to go before they can validate the safety of this drug for public consumption. As an adverb, way is used informally to mean "to a considerable degree," where far is preferable in formal speaking and writing. In formal contexts a synopsis that was far too long should be used rather than a synopsis that was way too long. Another meaning of the adverb way, "extremely," is slang, and usages like the following are inappropriate in formal spoken and written English: way scared,way cool,way mean, and way wrong, where quite scared,extremely cool,very mean, and totally wrong are appropriate substitutes.
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