# road

/ˈɹoʊd/ (US) · /ɹˈəʊd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a way for vehicles

noun · CEFR A1

a hard surface built for cars, buses, and bicycles to travel between places.

For teachers: a prepared route or thoroughfare for use by motor vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

- The road was very busy during the morning rush hour.
- The local council approved a budget to resurface the main road connecting the industrial estate to the city centre.

### 2. a path or route

noun · CEFR B1

a way of achieving something or a path you take in life.

For teachers: a metaphorical path or course of action leading to a specific result or destination.

- Hard work is the only road to success in this business.
- The long road to recovery began with small, daily exercises designed to restore her mobility after the surgery.

### 3. sheltered water

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a safe place near the shore where ships can stay at anchor.

For teachers: a partly sheltered area of water near a shore where vessels may ride at anchor; often used in the plural form 'roads'.

- The fleet waited in the roads until the storm passed.
- The merchant vessels gathered in the protected roads, awaiting a favourable wind to begin their journey across the channel.

Usage: Often appears in the plural form 'roads' in maritime contexts.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialised term; learners will likely only encounter it in historical literature or nautical charts.

### 4. cricket pitch

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a very flat and hard surface in cricket that makes it easy to hit the ball.

For teachers: a hard, flat pitch that offers little assistance to bowlers and is highly favourable for batting.

- The batsmen scored many runs because the pitch was a total road.
- The opening pair capitalised on the flat road of a pitch, reaching a century partnership before the first drinks break.

Teaching tip: Used specifically in cricket-playing nations like the UK, Australia, and India.

### 5. away from home

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English

happening at the stadium of the opposing team.

For teachers: pertaining to a game or series of games played at the opponent's venue.

- The team is tired after their long road trip this week.
- The coach expressed concern about the team's poor road record, noting that they had lost five consecutive games away from home.

Usage: Usually used before a noun.

Teaching tip: Commonly used in North American sports like baseball or basketball.

## Examples

- The road to the city is very busy today.
- The construction crew spent the entire summer repairing the main road that leads into the valley.
- While the ancient road was originally built for horse-drawn carriages, it has since been paved to accommodate the heavy flow of modern commercial traffic.

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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.