ENGLISH
REFERENCE

expressway

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ɪksˈpɹɛsˌweɪ// UK //ɛkspɹˈɛsweɪ// ex·press·way Dialect

n. a wide road built for fast travel over long distances. It usually has several lanes and no traffic lights to slow you down.

n. a high-speed divided highway designed for through traffic, typically featuring grade-separated intersections and controlled access. Primarily used in North American and East Asian English varieties.


SIMPLE

The new expressway cuts the travel time to the city in half.

CONTEXTUAL

Heavy rain caused several minor accidents on the expressway, leading to a massive traffic jam during the morning commute.

COMPLEX

Urban planners designed the expressway to bypass the congested city center, though the project faced criticism for dividing established residential neighborhoods and increasing local noise pollution.

Synonyms
Origin

From express + way.

Usage

Commonly used in the United States, Canada, and parts of Asia; equivalent to 'motorway' in British English.

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