# subway

/ˈsəbˌweɪ/ (US) · /sˈʌbweɪ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. pedestrian tunnel

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a tunnel that allows people to walk safely under a busy road or railway.

For teachers: a grade-separated subterranean passage provided for the exclusive use of pedestrians.

- We used the subway to cross the busy highway safely.
- The city council decided to renovate the pedestrian subway after several residents complained about the poor lighting and damp conditions.

Usage: In American English, this is almost exclusively called a 'pedestrian underpass'.

### 3. to travel by underground train

verb · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

to travel using an underground train system.

For teachers: to commute or travel via an underground railway system. Intransitive use.

- I usually subway to work because parking in the city is too expensive.
- Rather than braving the gridlock of midtown traffic, they decided to subway down to the gallery for the opening reception.

## Examples

- I take the subway to work every morning.
- The city is expanding the subway line to reach the outer suburbs and reduce traffic congestion.
- Commuters often prefer the subway during rush hour because it bypasses the gridlock that frequently paralyzes the city's main arterial roads.

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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.