# midway

/ˈmɪdˌweɪ/ (US) · /mˈɪdweɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/midway
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. halfway through

adverb · CEFR B2

in the middle of a place or a period of time.

For teachers: at or to a position equidistant from the extremes; in the middle of a period of time or a sequence of events.

- We stopped for lunch midway through our long drive to the coast.
- The project was cancelled midway through the development phase, leaving the team with several unfinished prototypes and no clear direction.

### 2. middle position

adjective · CEFR B2

being in the middle of a distance or a process.

For teachers: occupying a middle position or occurring at a midpoint in time or space.

- The team reached a midway point in the competition and felt confident.
- The researchers identified a midway stage in the chemical reaction where the compound remains stable for several minutes before breaking down.

### 3. fairground area

noun · CEFR C1 · American English

the area at a fair or circus where you find games, rides, and food booths.

For teachers: the central area of a fair, carnival, or circus dedicated to side-shows, amusements, and concessions.

- The children spent all their pocket money on the games at the fair's midway.
- The bright neon lights of the midway beckoned visitors toward the Ferris wheel and the various stalls selling fried snacks.

### 4. a middle way

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a middle path or choice between two different ideas or extremes.

For teachers: a middle course, path, or manner that avoids extremes.

- The two leaders tried to find a midway that would satisfy both sides.
- In his philosophical treatise, he argues for a midway between total freedom and strict social control.

## Examples

- The gas station is midway between the two towns.
- We decided to stop for lunch midway through our long drive to the coast.
- The negotiations stalled midway through the afternoon session when both parties realized they could not agree on the final budget allocation.

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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.