ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hwy

n. countable
B1 Intermediate hwy Humorous

n. a short way of writing the word 'highway' on signs or in addresses. You use it to save space when referring to a main road.

n. a standard abbreviation for 'highway', used primarily in written contexts such as road signage, maps, and postal addresses.


SIMPLE

The hotel is located just off Hwy 101.

CONTEXTUAL

Construction crews will close two lanes of Hwy 50 tonight for emergency repairs.

COMPLEX

While the official documents list the route as a state road, local residents and signage consistently refer to it as Hwy 12.

Etymology 1

From highway.

Etymology 2

From why.

Usage

Typically written with a capital 'H' and often followed by a specific route number.

Pitfall

I drove down the hwy.I drove down the highway.The abbreviation 'hwy' is used for signs, maps, and addresses, but the full word 'highway' should be used in formal prose.

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