# Ave

/ˈɑˌveɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ave
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. abbreviation for avenue

noun · CEFR A2

Stands for Avenue. You see this on street signs and in addresses.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Avenue. Used almost exclusively in written addresses and cartography.

- The shop is located at 452 Fifth Ave, right next to the library.
- The delivery driver struggled to locate the specific building because the manifest listed the address as an Ave instead of a Street.

Usage: Usually written with a capital letter and often followed by a period in American English (Ave.).

### 2. a prayer

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a specific prayer to the Virgin Mary in the Christian church.

For teachers: The Ave Maria prayer or a bead on a rosary representing this prayer.

- The monk whispered an Ave as he walked through the quiet garden.
- The composer set the text of the Ave to a haunting melody that emphasized the solemnity of the liturgical rite.

## Examples

- The office is located at 45 Fifth Ave.
- Please make sure to write 'Ave' clearly on the envelope so the mail carrier finds the right street.
- The city planning committee proposed a series of new bike lanes connecting the main commercial Ave to the residential districts in the south.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.