ENGLISH
REFERENCE

in the way

prep. phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

prep. phr.. blocking a path or space so that people or things cannot move easily.

prep. phr.. functioning as an adverbial or adjectival phrase to indicate an obstruction or an impediment to movement or progress.


SIMPLE

Please move your shoes; they are in the way.

CONTEXTUAL

I tried to see the stage, but a tall man was standing in the way.

COMPLEX

The fallen branches were in the way of the rescue vehicles, significantly delaying their arrival at the scene of the accident.

Usage

often used with the verb 'to be' or 'to get' to describe a physical or metaphorical blockage.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'on the way' (meaning 'in transit' or 'approaching') to prevent common confusion between these two prepositional phrases.

Pitfall

He is on the way of my work.He is in the way of my work.use 'in' to describe an obstruction; 'on the way' means you are currently traveling toward a destination.

© 2026 English Reference