WAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does way mean? 

• WAY (noun)
  The noun WAY has 12 senses:

1. how something is done or how it happens

2. thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

3. a line leading to a place or point

4. the condition of things generally

5. a course of conduct

6. any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another

7. a journey or passage

8. space for movement

9. the property of distance in general

10. doing as one pleases or chooses

11. a general category of things; used in the expression 'in the way of'

12. a portion of something divided into shares

  Familiarity information: WAY used as a noun is familiar.

• WAY (adverb)
  The adverb WAY has 1 sense:

1. to a great degree or by a great distance; very much ('right smart' is regional in the United States)

  Familiarity information: WAY used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

How something is done or how it happens

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

fashion; manner; mode; style; way

Context example:

in an abrasive fashion

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

property (a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "way"):

drape (the manner in which fabric hangs or falls)

fit (the manner in which something fits)

form (a particular mode in which something is manifested)

life-style; life style; lifestyle; modus vivendi (a manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes)

setup (the way something is organized or arranged)

signature; touch (a distinguishing style)

wise (a way of doing or being)

response (the manner in which an electrical or mechanical device responds to an input signal or a range of input signals)

artistic style; idiom (the style of a particular artist or school or movement)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

agency; means; way

Context example:

the true way to success

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

effectuation; implementation (the act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something); carrying into effect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "way"):

escape (a means or way of escaping)

fast track (a rapid means of achieving a goal)

instrument; tool (the means whereby some act is accomplished)

road (a way or means to achieve something)

stepping stone (any means of advancement)

expedient (a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one)

desperate measure (desperate actions taken as a means to an end)

open sesame (any very successful means of achieving a result)

salvation (a means of preserving from harm or unpleasantness)

tooth (a means of enforcement)

voice (a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated)

wings (a means of flight or ascent)

dint (interchangeable with 'means' in the expression 'by means of')

Sense 3

Meaning:

A line leading to a place or point

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

direction; way

Context example:

didn't know the way home

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

itinerary; path; route (an established line of travel or access)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "way"):

east-west direction (in a direction parallel with lines of latitude)

tendency; trend (a general direction in which something tends to move)

qibla (the direction of the Kaaba toward which Muslims turn for their daily prayers)

north-south direction (in a direction parallel with lines of longitude)

course; trend (general line of orientation)

aim; bearing; heading (the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The condition of things generally

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

I felt the same way

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A course of conduct

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

path; way; way of life

Context example:

genius usually follows a revolutionary path

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

course; course of action (a mode of action)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "way"):

ambages ((archaic) roundabout or mysterious ways of action)

warpath (a course leading to warfare or battle)

hadith; Sunna; Sunnah ((Islam) the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad and interpretations of the Koran)

straight and narrow; strait and narrow (the way of proper and honest behavior)

primrose path (a life of ease and pleasure)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he said he was looking for the way out

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)

Meronyms (parts of "way"):

roadside; wayside (edge of a way or road or path)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "way"):

access; approach (a way of entering or leaving)

lane (a narrow way or road)

passage (a way through or along which someone or something may pass)

path (a way especially designed for a particular use)

road; route (an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation)

staircase; stairway (a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps)

watercourse; waterway (a conduit through which water flows)

Holonyms ("way" is a part of...):

transit; transportation; transportation system (a facility consisting of the means and equipment necessary for the movement of passengers or goods)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A journey or passage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

they are on the way

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

journey; journeying (the act of traveling from one place to another)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Space for movement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

elbow room; room; way

Context example:

hardly enough elbow room to turn around

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

position; spatial relation (the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "way"):

seating; seating area; seating room; seats (an area that includes places where several people can sit)

standing room (room for passengers or spectators to stand)

breathing room; breathing space (sufficient room for easy breathing or movement)

clearance; headroom; headway (vertical space available to allow easy passage under something)

houseroom (space for accommodation in a house)

lebensraum; living space (space sought for occupation by a nation whose population is expanding)

parking (space in which vehicles can be parked)

sea room (space for maneuver at sea)

Sense 9

Meaning:

The property of distance in general

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

he went a long ways

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Doing as one pleases or chooses

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

if I had my way

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

choice; pick; selection (the person or thing chosen or selected)

Sense 11

Meaning:

A general category of things; used in the expression 'in the way of'

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

they didn't have much in the way of clothing

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

category (a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme)

Sense 12

Meaning:

A portion of something divided into shares

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Context example:

they split the loot three ways

Hypernyms ("way" is a kind of...):

part; percentage; portion; share (assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group)

• WAY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

To a great degree or by a great distance; very much ('right smart' is regional in the United States)

Synonyms:

right smart; way

Context example:

the other side of the hill is right smart steeper than the side we are on

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

 Context examples 

In that way I didn’t know much of what was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Thank you," said Messner. Then, turning to her companion, "By the way, Doctor, what is your name, if I may ask?"

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

It came about in this way.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Which is all by the way, for you are wrong.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The keen wind still carried the howling of the dogs, though this grew fainter as we went on our way.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

They went on their way, but she did not move.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He wanted to be affectionate to this sister, who was good, and who, in her way, he knew, loved him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I determined therefore to direct my course this way, in order to my return to Europe.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It will reflect you—your artistic sense and style—in the very best way.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“There are certainly grave difficulties in the way,” said he.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)