# lane

/ˈɫeɪn/ (US) · /lˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lane
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. part of a main road

noun · CEFR A2

one of the parallel parts of a large road, marked with lines for a single row of vehicles.

For teachers: a longitudinal division of a carriageway intended for a single line of vehicles and typically demarcated by road markings.

- You should stay in the left lane unless you are overtaking another car.
- The highway expansion project added a dedicated high-occupancy vehicle lane to mitigate peak-hour congestion for commuters.

### 2. narrow country road

noun · CEFR A2

a narrow road, especially in the countryside or between buildings.

For teachers: a narrow rural road or a restricted urban thoroughfare, often lacking a central dividing line.

- The car drove slowly down the narrow country lane lined with tall trees.
- We spent the afternoon wandering through the winding lanes of the old town, discovering hidden courtyards and artisan workshops.

### 3. sports path

noun · CEFR B1

a marked path for a single runner in a race or a swimmer in a pool.

For teachers: a designated parallel course for a competitor in a race, such as in athletics or competitive swimming.

- The fastest runner usually starts the race in the middle lane.
- The swimmer was disqualified after drifting into the adjacent lane during the final lap of the medley.

### 4. shipping or flight path

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a fixed route that ships or planes must follow.

For teachers: a prescribed route for maritime or aerial navigation, designed to ensure safety and traffic management.

- The cargo ship followed the busy shipping lane across the Atlantic Ocean.
- Air traffic controllers monitored the commercial flight lanes closely to ensure minimum separation distances were maintained during the storm.

### 5. bowling

noun · CEFR B1

the long, narrow wooden floor where you roll a bowling ball.

For teachers: the long, narrow wooden or synthetic surface along which a bowling ball is delivered toward the pins.

- We booked two lanes at the bowling alley for my birthday party.
- The professional bowler complained that the oil pattern on the lane was inconsistent, affecting the ball's hook potential.

### 6. gaming path

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

one of the main paths on a map in certain video games.

For teachers: a primary path on a MOBA map that connects the opposing bases and serves as a conduit for non-player characters.

- The team lost the match because they didn't defend the bottom lane well.
- Effective communication between players is essential when rotating between lanes to counter an enemy ambush.

## Examples

- Please stay in your lane while driving on the highway.
- The city added a new bike lane to the main street to improve safety for cyclists.
- The highway expansion project aims to add a high-occupancy vehicle lane to reduce peak-hour congestion for commuters traveling toward the city center.

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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.