# freeway

/ˈfɹiˌweɪ/ (US) · /fɹˈiːweɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/freeway
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. high-speed highway

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a wide road designed for fast travel over long distances, with no traffic lights or stop signs.

For teachers: a divided highway with controlled access, designed for high-speed motor traffic with no level crossings.

- We took the freeway to avoid the traffic lights in the city center.
- The expansion of the freeway system significantly reduced commute times for residents living in the outer suburbs.

Usage: Commonly used in the Western United States; 'motorway' is the equivalent in British English.

Teaching tip: While 'highway' is a general term for any main road, 'freeway' specifically implies a road with no intersections or tolls in many regions.

## Examples

- We took the freeway to avoid the traffic in the city center.
- The new freeway significantly reduced the commute time between the suburbs and the downtown business district.
- 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.

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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.