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n. 1. a. A road, path, or highway affording passage from one place to another. b. An opening affording passage: This door is the only way into the attic. 2. a. Space to proceed: cleared the way for the parade. b. Opportunity to advance: opened the way to peace. 3. a. A course that is or may be used in going from one place to another: tried to find the shortest way home. b. Progress or travel along a certain route or in a specific direction: on her way north. c. often ways (Used with a sing. verb) Informal Distance: The travelers have come a long way. That village is a good ways off. 4. a. A course of conduct or action: tried to take the easy way out of the mess he was in. b. A manner or method of doing something: several ways of solving this problem; had no way to reach her. See Synonyms at method. c. Used with a personal pronoun as the object of various verbs to indicate progress toward an objective: elbowed his way through the crowd; talked my way into the club; worked his way into a better job. d. A usual or habitual manner or mode of being, living, or acting: the American way of life. e. An individual or personal manner of behaving, acting, or doing: Have it your own way. 5. a. A specific direction: He glanced my way. b. A participant. Often used in combination: a three-way conversation. 6. a. An aspect, particular, or feature: resembles his father in many ways; in no way comparable. b. Nature or category: not much in the way of a plot. 7. Freedom to do as one wishes: if I had my way. 8. An aptitude or facility: She certainly does have a way with words. 9. A state or condition: He is in a bad way financially. 10. Vicinity: Drop in when you're out our way. 11. often ways A longitudinal strip on a surface that serves to guide a moving machine part. 12. ways (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Nautical The structure on which a ship is built and from which it slides when launched. adv. Idioms: 1. Informal By a great distance or to a great degree; far: way off base; way too expensive. 2. Slang Very; extremely: "Can they really make a car that's way cool?" (Fortune). 3. Informal From this place; away: Go way. 4. Informal Used in response to no way to indicate affirmation contradicting a negative assertion. all the way From beginning to end; completely: drove all the way from Detroit to Pittsburgh. by the way Incidentally: By the way, you forgot to cash that check. by way of 1. Through; via: flew to the Far East by way of the polar route. 2. As a means of: made no comment by way of apology. go out of (one's)/the way To inconvenience oneself in doing something beyond what is required. in a way 1. To a certain extent; with reservations: I like the new styles, in a way. 2. From one point of view: In a way, you're right. in the way In a position to obstruct, hinder, or interfere. no way Informal Certainly not: Did you like that movie?—No way! It was boring. on (one's)/the way In the process of coming, going, or traveling: She is on her way out the door. Winter is on the way. on the way On the route of a journey: met him on the way to town; ran into them on the way. out of the way 1. In such a position as not to obstruct, hinder, or interfere. 2. Taken care of; disposed of: some details to get out of the way first. 3. In a remote location. 4. Of an unusual character; remarkable. 5. Improper; amiss: said nothing out of the way. the way In the manner that: The way he talks, you'd think he ran the company. under way 1. In motion or operation. 2. In ongoing development; in progress. Usage Note: Way has long been an intensifying adverb meaning "to a great degree," as in way over budget. This usage is both acceptable and common but has an informal ring. Way is also used as a general intensifier, as in way cool and way depressing. This usage remains a hallmark of casual speech and is not appropriate for formal contexts. · In American English ways is often used as an equivalent of way in phrases such as a long ways to go. This usage is considered nonstandard by most editors, though it appears occasionally in less formal texts. |
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