ENGLISH
REFERENCE

freeway

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈfɹiˌweɪ// UK //fɹˈiːweɪ// free·way

n. a wide road designed for fast travel over long distances. It has multiple lanes and no traffic lights or stop signs to slow you down.

n. a multi-lane divided highway designed for high-speed through traffic, featuring grade-separated intersections and no direct access to adjacent property. Primarily used in North American English.


SIMPLE

We took the freeway to avoid the traffic in the city center.

CONTEXTUAL

The new freeway significantly reduced the commute time between the suburbs and the downtown business district.

COMPLEX

Urban planners argue that expanding the freeway only encourages more driving, a phenomenon known as induced demand that eventually leads back to the same levels of congestion.

Synonyms
Origin

From free + way.

Usage

Commonly used in the Western United States; equivalent to 'motorway' in British English.

© 2026 English Reference