ENGLISH
REFERENCE

motorway

n. countable
B1 Intermediate UK //mˈəʊtəwˌeɪ// mo·tor·way

n. a wide road built for fast travel over long distances. These roads usually have several lanes and no traffic lights.

n. a wide road designed for high-speed travel, featuring multiple lanes and grade-separated junctions. Primarily used in British English and related dialects; equivalent to 'highway' or 'freeway' in North American English.


SIMPLE

The motorway is very busy during the morning rush hour.

CONTEXTUAL

We took the motorway to reach the coast faster, avoiding the smaller country roads.

COMPLEX

The expansion of the national motorway network significantly reduced transit times for freight, though it also led to increased noise pollution for communities situated near the new interchanges.

Synonyms
Origin

From motor + way.

Usage

Commonly used in British, Irish, and Australian English; North American speakers typically use 'highway', 'freeway', or 'expressway' instead.

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