# metro

/ˈmɛˌtɹoʊ/ (US) · /mˈɛtɹəʊ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. underground train

noun · CEFR A2

an underground train system in a large city.

For teachers: an urban rapid transit rail system, typically underground, serving a metropolitan area.

- We took the metro to the city centre because it was faster than the bus.
- The city's metro network underwent a massive expansion to accommodate the influx of commuters from the newly developed northern suburbs.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the'.

### 2. a large city area

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a large city and the smaller towns around it.

For teachers: a metropolitan area, including a central city and its surrounding suburbs.

- The population of the Tokyo metro is over thirty-five million people.
- Planners are struggling to manage the rapid growth of the metro, as infrastructure in the outlying districts fails to keep pace with residential development.

### 3. related to a city

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

related to a large city.

For teachers: relating to or denoting a metropolis or a large urban area; a clipped form of 'metropolitan'.

- The metro police department handles security for the entire city.
- The candidate focused her campaign on metro issues, specifically targeting the concerns of young professionals living in the downtown core.

## Examples

- I take the metro to work every morning.
- The city is expanding the metro to reach the outer suburbs and reduce traffic congestion.
- Navigating the Parisian metro requires a basic understanding of the line numbers and the final destinations of each route to ensure you board the correct train.

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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.