📒 a method, style or manner of doing something
- I prefer to do things the easy way.
- I love him and I think he feels the same way.
- way to do something I'm sure we can find a way to make this work.
📒 a particular manner or style of behaviour
- in a… way They grinned at her in a friendly way.
- It was not his way to admit that he had made a mistake.
- Don't worry, if she seems quiet—it's just her way.
📒 the typical way of behaving and living of a particular group of people
- After ten years I'm used to the strange British ways.
- She always said that the old ways were the best.
📒 a route or road that you take in order to reach a place
- to ask somebody the way
- Do you know the way?
- way to… Can you tell me the way to Leicester Square?
📒 the route along which somebody/something is moving; the route that somebody/something would take if there was nothing stopping them/it
- Get out of my way! I'm in a hurry.
- Riot police with shields were blocking the demonstrators' way.
- along the way Unfortunately they ran into a snowstorm along the way.
📒 a road, path or street for travelling along
- There's a way across the fields.
📒 used in the names of streets
📒 a particular direction; in a particular direction
- Which way did they go?
- We just missed a car coming the other way.
- Look both ways (= look left and right) before crossing the road.
📒 a means of going into or leaving a place, such as a door or gate
- the way in/out
- They escaped out the back way.
📒 a distance or period of time between two points
- A little way up on the left is the Museum of Modern Art.
- We had to go a long way before we found a place to eat.
- September was a long way off.
📒 an area, a part of a country, etc.
- over/down… way I think he lives somewhere over Greenwich way.
- down your/my way I'll stop by and see you next time I'm down your way.
📒 a particular aspect of something
- I have changed in every way.
- It's been quite a day, one way and another (= for several reasons).
- They're alike in more ways than one.
📒 a particular condition or state
- in a… way The economy's in a bad way.
- I don't know how we're going to manage, the way things are.
- The way things are going, I think that's achievable.
📒 on the other side of the street, etc.
- Music blared from the open window of the house across the way.
📒 during the whole journey/period of time
- She didn't speak a word to me all the way back home.
- the whole way to Arizona
- This bus doesn't go all the way so you'll have to change.
📒 completely; as much as it takes to achieve what you want
- I'm fighting him all the way.
- You can feel that the audience is with her all the way.
📒 as you make progress with something
- You'll learn something along the way.
📒 used to say that things often happen in a particular way, especially when it is not convenient
📒 however you choose to look at a situation
📒 to behave or do things in a particular manner because it is part of your character
- It's not his fault he's so pompous—he was born that way.
📒 to be easy compared with what came before
- It's all downhill from here. We'll soon be finished.
📒 to become worse or less successful
- It's been all downhill for his career since then, with four defeats in five games.
- I started work as a journalist and it was downhill all the way for my health.
📒 to be easy compared with what came before
- It's downhill all the way from here. We'll soon be finished.
📒 to become worse or less successful
- I started work as a journalist and it was downhill all the way for my health.
- It's been all downhill for his career since then, with four defeats in five games.
📒 to have habits or opinions that you have had for a long time and that you do not want to change
- Grandma is so set in her ways.
📒 to have nearly achieved something and be going to achieve it soon
- She is well on the way to recovery.
- He is well on the way to establishing himself among the top ten players in the world.
📒 by a great amount
- He was the best by a long way.
📒 used to introduce a comment or question that is not directly related to what you have been talking about
- By the way, I found that book you were looking for.
- What's the time, by the way?
- Oh by the way, if you see Jackie, tell her I'll call her this evening.
📒 by a route that includes the place mentioned
- The artist recently arrived in Paris from Bulgaria by way of Vienna.
- She came to TV by way of drama school.
📒 as a form of something; for something; as a means of something
- He received £600 by way of compensation from the company.
- She rolled her eyes by way of an answer and left.
📒 to start to live or behave in a different way from before
- He was in trouble with the police as a teenager but now he’s completely changed his ways.
- Your father is unlikely to change his ways now.
📒 to gradually achieve something or move somewhere by being determined and using a lot of effort
- She clawed her way to the top of her profession.
- Slowly, he clawed his way out from under the collapsed building.
📒 to remove things that are stopping the progress or movement of something
- The ruling could clear the way for extradition proceedings.
📒 to happen to you by chance, or when you were not expecting it
- He took the first job that came his way.
- Have any interesting articles come your way recently?
📒 to have two opposite effects or results
📒 used to say that it does not matter which one of two possibilities happens, is chosen or is true
- Was it his fault or not? Either way, an explanation is due.
- We could meet today or tomorrow—I don't mind one way or the other.
📒 in all directions
- Her hair tumbled every which way.
📒 to move along carefully, for example when it is dark, by touching walls, objects, etc.
📒 to be careful about how you do things, usually because you are in a situation that you are not familiar with
- She was new in the job, still feeling her way.
📒 to discover the right route (to a place)
- I hope you can find your way home.
📒 to come to a place or a situation by chance or without intending to
- He eventually found his way into acting.
📒 to become used to doing something/to lose the habit of doing something
- The women had got into the way of going up on the deck every evening.
📒 to prevent somebody from doing something; to prevent something from happening
- He wouldn't allow emotions to get in the way of him doing his job.
📒 to get or do what you want, especially when somebody has tried to stop you
- She always gets her own way in the end.
📒 to break or fall down
- The pillars gave way and a section of the roof collapsed.
- Her numb leg gave way beneath her and she stumbled clumsily.
📒 to stop resisting somebody/something; to agree to do something that you do not want to do
- He refused to give way on any of the points.
📒 to allow somebody/something to be or go first
- Give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
📒 to allow yourself to be very strongly affected by something, especially an emotion
- Flinging herself on the bed, she gave way to helpless misery.
📒 to be replaced by something
- The storm gave way to bright sunshine.
- As he drew nearer, his anxiety gave way to relief.
📒 to have full sexual intercourse with somebody
📒 to have known each other for a long time
- We go back a long way, he and I.
📒 to last a long time
- She seems to make her money go a long way.
- A small amount of this paint goes a long way (= covers a large area).
- (ironic) I find that a little of Jerry's company can go a long way (= I quickly get tired of being with him).
📒 to help very much/a little in achieving something
- The new law goes a long way towards solving the problem.
📒 to make a special effort to do something
- He would always go out of his way to be friendly towards her.
- She went out of her way to help them.
📒 to do as you choose, especially when somebody has advised you against it
- It's best to let her go her own way if you don't want a fight.
- He's always gone his own way when it comes to design.
📒 to end a relationship with somebody
- When the business was sold they went their separate ways.
- They decided to go their separate ways after being together for five years.
- When we finished school, we all went our separate ways.
📒 to go in a different direction from somebody you have been travelling with
📒 to travel in the same direction as somebody
- I'm going your way—I'll walk with you.
- I'm going your way, so we can walk together.
- She was going my way, so we talked as we walked.
📒 to go well for you; to be in your favour
- By the third round he knew the fight was going his way.
📒 to die
📒 by having an unpleasant experience or by making mistakes
- She won't listen to my advice so she'll just have to learn the hard way.
- He learned about the dangers of drugs the hard way.
📒 to have made a lot of progress
- We've come a long way since the early days of the project.
- The study of genes has come a long way in recent years.
📒 to be a sensible person
📒 to have or want to have the advantages of two different situations or ways of behaving that are impossible to combine
- You can't have it both ways. If you can afford to go out all the time, you can afford to pay off some of your debts.
📒 used to say in an angry way that although you are not happy about something that somebody has said, you are not going to argue
- Oh OK, then. Have it your own way!
📒 to have something arranged in the way that you want, even though other people want it to be arranged differently
- The German team weren't going to let the English have everything their own way.
📒 to need to make a lot of progress before you can achieve something
- She still has a long way to go before she's fully fit.
📒 used to say that something often happens in a particular way, especially when it is out of your control
- First love affairs have a way of not working out.
- Fate has a way of changing the best of plans.
📒 to be good at dealing with somebody/something
- He has a way with small children.
- She has a way with words (= is very good at expressing herself).
📒 to persuade somebody to have sex with you
📒 used to explain what you would do if you had total control over something
- If I had my way, smoking would be banned completely.
📒 of any type
- I don't approve of violence in any shape or form.
- I can't stand insects in any shape or form.
- I do not condone bullying in any way, shape or form.
📒 on a large/small scale
- The new delivery service has taken off in a big way.
- Many people are investing in a small way in the stock market.
- He then started spending money in a big way.
📒 (to be/become) pregnant
📒 used to show that a statement has more than one meaning
- With the first goal he used his head in more ways than one.
📒 used to say what normally happens in a particular situation
- In the ordinary way, she's not a nervous person.
📒 how and when you want to, even though this might annoy other people
- He always does the work, but in his own sweet time.
- She just ignores all the criticism and continues in her own sweet way.
📒 to some extent; not completely
- In a way it was one of our biggest mistakes.
- It's more interesting, in some ways, to watch what's going on behind the scenes here.
- In a certain way, all of that is true.
📒 in a manner that is appropriate to or typical of a person or thing but that may seem unusual to other people
- I expect she does love you in her own way.
- The building is very attractive in its own way.
- He was attractive in his own way.
📒 stopping somebody from moving or doing something
- You'll have to move—you're in my way.
- I left them alone, as I felt I was in the way.
- There were several rocks in the way.
📒 used in questions and negative sentences to talk about the types of something that are available
- There isn't much in the way of entertainment in this place.
📒 to avoid somebody
- Let's keep out of her way while she's in such a bad mood.
📒 to be familiar with a place, subject, etc.
📒 to make a lot of money easily and feel very pleased about it
📒 to get yourself into or out of a situation by lying
📒 to deliberately avoid seeing somebody/something
- Prison officers know what's going on, but look the other way.
📒 to become lost
- We lost our way in the dark.
- She lost her way in the fog.
📒 to forget or move away from the purpose or reason for something
- I feel that the project has lost its way.
- This project seems to have lost its way.
📒 to allow somebody/something to pass; to allow somebody/something to take the place of somebody/something
- Make way for the Lord Mayor!
- Tropical forest is felled to make way for grassland.
📒 to move or get somewhere; to make progress
- Will you be able to make your own way to the airport (= get there without help, a ride, etc.)?
- Is this your plan for making your way in the world?
📒 to stop behaving badly
📒 (to take/find) an acceptable course of action that avoids two extreme positions
📒 used to show that you are certain about something
- It was the wrong decision—there are no two ways about it.
📒 used to say that there is no possibility that you will do something or that something will happen
- ‘Do you want to help?’ ‘No way!’
- No way am I going to drive them there.
- There's no way we could afford that sort of money.
📒 during the journey
- He stopped for breakfast on the way.
- She grabbed her camera and bag on her way out.
- We didn't stop on the way north.
📒 going or coming
- I'd better be on my way (= I must leave) soon.
- The letter should be on its way to you.
- Then he went off on his merry way.
📒 not yet born
- They've got three kids and one on the way.
📒 to make it possible for somebody to do something or for something to happen
- The agreement could open the way for the country to pay off its debts.
📒 in the opposite position, direction or order
- I think it should go on the other way round.
📒 the opposite situation
- I didn't leave you. It was the other way round (= you left me).
📒 in a safe place where somebody/something cannot be hurt or injured or do any damage to somebody/something
- She put the knife in a drawer, out of harm’s way.
- I prefer the children to play in the garden where they’re out of harm’s way.
📒 no longer stopping somebody from moving or doing something
- I moved my legs out of the way so that she could get past.
- I didn't say anything until Dad was out of the way.
📒 finished; dealt with
- Our region is poised for growth once the election is out of the way.
📒 used in negative sentences to mean ‘unusual’
- She had obviously noticed nothing out of the way.
📒 not on the route that you planned to take
- I'd love a ride home—if it's not out of your way.
- The supermarket is a bit out of my way.
- The library is slightly out of my way.
📒 a point at which two people or groups of people decide to separate
- These events led to a final parting of the ways.
📒 to create a situation in which somebody will be able to do something or something can happen
- This decision paved the way for changes in employment rights for women.
📒 to make enough money to pay what it costs to keep it going
- The bridge is still not paying its way.
📒 to pay for everything yourself without having to rely on anyone else’s money
📒 to walk carefully, choosing the safest, driest, etc. place to put your feet
- She picked her way delicately over the rough ground.
- We picked our way carefully over the jagged rocks.
📒 to make somebody annoyed or angry, often without intending to, by doing or saying something that offends them
- She tends to rub people up the wrong way.
📒 to realize or admit that you have done something wrong and decide to change your behaviour
- Will they realize the error of their ways before it is too late?
📒 to find that it is possible or convenient to do something
- Small builders cannot see their way clear to take on many trainees.
📒 to get an idea of what is likely to happen before deciding what to do
📒 to do something first so that other people can follow
📒 to make it easier for somebody/something to develop or make progress
- These negotiations are intended to smooth the path to a peace treaty.
- We’re trying to smooth the way for women who want to resume their careers.
📒 to (not) prevent somebody from doing something
- If you believe you can make her happy, I won't stand in your way.
- He wanted to go to college and would let nothing stand in his way.
📒 to be bisexual (= sexually attracted to both men and women)
📒 to end a difficult situation by choosing the simplest solution even if it is not the best one
- He took the easy way out and didn’t go to the meeting.
- She took the easy way out and paid someone to write the article for her.
📒 to be offended by a remark that was not intended to be offensive
- Don't take this the wrong way, but maybe you're trying a bit too hard.
📒 to make excuses and give reasons for not doing something; to manage to get yourself out of a difficult situation
- I managed to talk my way out of having to give a speech.
📒 that is the situation and we cannot change it, so we must accept it
📒 there are many different ways to achieve something
📒 in my opinion
📒 having started
- Preparations are well under way for a week of special events in May.
📒 a plan of action that is likely to be successful
- Personal electronic health records are the way forward for effective healthcare in the future.
📒 something that allows you to join a group of people, an industry, etc. that it is difficult to join, or to understand something that it is difficult to understand
📒 the typical pattern of behaviour of a person or group
- the American way of life
- She loved the Spanish way of life and immediately felt at home there.
- the beliefs and practices of the Hindu way of life
📒 the way that most people behave; the way that things happen, which you cannot change
- The rich and powerful make the decisions—that's the way of the world.
📒 used to say that somebody else has either to agree with your opinion or to leave
📒 the methods and materials available for doing something
- ways and means of raising money
- Newspapers have ways and means of getting hold of secret information.
📒 used to tell somebody that you are pleased about something they have done
- Good work, guys! Way to go!
- Way to go! I wish I could do that!
📒 the way to make somebody like or love you
- The way to a man's heart is through his stomach (= by giving him good food).
📒 if you really want to do something then you will find a way of doing it
📒 a series of victories or successes
- He'll look to continue his winning ways with a victory in Mexico on 16 February.
📒 to do something from beginning to end, especially when it takes a lot of time or effort
- She worked her way through the pile of documents.
📒 to have a job or series of jobs while studying, travelling, etc. in order to pay for your education, etc.
📒 to move regularly to a more senior position in a company
- He worked his way up from messenger boy to account executive.