# highway

/ˈhaɪˌweɪ/ (US) · /hˈaɪweɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/highway
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. major road

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a main public road, often with several lanes, used for traveling long distances at high speeds.

For teachers: a principal public thoroughfare, especially one designed for high-speed, multi-lane traffic between cities.

- We took the highway to get to the city faster than the local roads allowed.
- The state government allocated significant funding to expand the highway, aiming to reduce the chronic congestion experienced by daily commuters.

Usage: In North America, 'highway' is the general term for major roads; in British English, 'motorway' or 'A-road' is more common.

Teaching tip: While 'highway' is understood globally, it is the standard term in American English. In British English, it is often used in a formal or legal context rather than everyday conversation.

### 2. legal public road

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

any public road that people have a right to use.

For teachers: any public way or road which the public has a right to use for passage. Often used in a legal context to include pavements and footpaths.

- The law says that no one can block a public highway.
- The defendant was charged with obstructing the highway after placing a permanent structure on the communal footpath.

Usage: In legal English, 'highway' is a broad term that can include any path the public is entitled to use.

### 3. a path to a result

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a direct way or path to a specific result or destiny.

For teachers: a metaphorical path or direct route leading to a particular state or outcome.

- Hard work and good luck were his highway to success.
- The diplomat warned that the current trade tensions could become a highway to a much larger international conflict.

## Examples

- We drove along the highway for three hours to reach the coast.
- The new highway significantly reduced the travel time between the capital and the industrial port.
- Urban planners are debating whether to expand the existing highway or invest in high-speed rail to alleviate the chronic congestion affecting the metropolitan area.

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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.