subway
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a tunnel that allows people to walk safely under a busy road or railway.
n.a grade-separated subterranean passage provided for the exclusive use of pedestrians.
Simple“We used the subway to cross the busy highway safely.”
In context“The city council decided to renovate the pedestrian subway after several residents complained about the poor lighting and damp conditions.”
UsageIn American English, this is almost exclusively called a 'pedestrian underpass'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to travel using an underground train system.
v.to commute or travel via an underground railway system. Intransitive use.
Simple“I usually subway to work because parking in the city is too expensive.”
In context“Rather than braving the gridlock of midtown traffic, they decided to subway down to the gallery for the opening reception.”
subway vs underground/tube — Underground and tube refer to the London rail network, while subway is the standard term for American systems.
From sub- + way.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.