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REFERENCE

way

n. · adv.
US //ˈweɪ// UK //wˈeɪ// way
  1. 1 a route or path (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a route, road, or path you take to get somewhere.

    a thoroughfare, route, or physical path leading from one place to another.

    Example

    Can you tell me the way to the nearest train station?

    Example

    The hikers lost their way when the dense fog obscured the trail markers along the ridge.
  2. 2 a method (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the method or style you use to do something.

    a method, procedure, or manner of performing an action.

    Example

    I like the way she explains difficult math problems.

    Example

    The company is looking for a more efficient way to manage its global supply chain without increasing costs.
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  1. 3 direction (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the direction that someone or something is moving.

    the direction of movement or the position of something relative to the speaker.

    Example

    Look both ways before you cross the busy street.

    Example

    The wind was blowing the wrong way, making it nearly impossible for the small boat to leave the harbour.
  2. 4 distance or time (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a certain distance or a period of time.

    a distance in space or a duration of time.

    Example

    The hotel is a long way from the city centre.

    Example

    We still have a long way to go before the project is ready for the public launch.
  3. 5 nautical movement (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Sport

    the movement or speed of a boat through the water.

    the forward or backward motion of a vessel through the water; momentum.

    Example

    The ship slowly lost way as it approached the wooden dock.

    Example

    The captain ordered the engines to stop, but the massive tanker carried its way for several miles before coming to a halt.
  4. 6 very or far (adv.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    used to mean 'very' or 'by a large amount'.

    an intensifier indicating a great degree or a significant distance.

    Example

    The price of that new phone is way too high for me.

    Example

    The actual results of the experiment were way beyond what the researchers had initially predicted.
Etymology 1

From Middle English way, wey, from Old English weġ, from Proto-West Germanic weg, from Proto-Germanic wegaz, from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-. Doublet of voe and possibly via. Cognates Cognate with North Frisian wai, wäi (“way”), Saterland Frisian Wai (“way”), West Frisian wei (“road; way”), Central Franconian Wääch (“way”), Cimbrian bege, bèg (“way”), Dutch weg (“way”), German, Low German Weg (“way”), Limburgish waeg (“way”), Luxembourgish Wee (“way”), Mòcheno be (“way”), Yiddish וועג (veg, “way”), Danish vej (“way”), Faroese, Icelandic vegur (“way”), Norwegian Bokmål veg, vei (“way”), Norwegian Nynorsk veg (“way”), Swedish väg (“way”), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌲𐍃 (wigs, “path; road”).

Etymology 2

Apheresis of away.

Etymology 3

From the sound it represents, by analogy with other (velar) letters such as kay and gay.

Word family
Idioms48 entries

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