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way

way

84 3.0
A part of something shared among people
  • noun
  • /weɪ/
: parte
  • It's about trying different ways of being, living and doing.
  • two ways
  • three ways

Examples

  • Music education will never be the most efficient way to achieve improved learning in other subjects.

    Academic text (2011)
  • For example, participants could share ideas about ways to recycle or experiment for the science fair.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And so basically these are two ways of writing the same thing.

  • Much less attention has been focused on the ways to use this knowledge in the future.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Teachers are encouraged to think of creative ways to use computer software beyond its primary function.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In all these ways, then, clothing has changed the ways in which we feel and behave.

    Academic text (2011)
  • What we've created is a way of life, not just a house.

  • The use of technology is a convenient and efficient way to get information to stakeholders.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Finally, seven students also talked in ways that revealed their own self-investment in their academics.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The team discussed various ways to improve communication among members.

Synonyms

share
vsway
663 1.6

A part of money, food or property given to someone

is the alternative term for the same divided portion

Antonyms

374 1.0

All of something seen as one unit

69 4.1

The whole of something that includes every part

Idioms

by the way
  • Informal
∞ 1.5

To introduce a new topic that is not directly related

∞ 1.8

Completely from the start to the finish

887 1.0

Something or someone that is going to a place and will arrive soon

734 3.2

To some extent from a certain point of view

Keeping someone from doing something by blocking them or causing problems

419 2.4

Something that stops progress or blocks movement

350 2.6

Moved aside so it does not block people

156 3.0

Already started and continuing now

In the opposite order, direction, or situation

the hard way
  • Informal
102 5.4

To learn something through mistakes and problems instead of taking an easier path

92 2.9

To reach a place or result through something else

88 3.6

To make a big difference

To help a lot or make something much better

Finished so it no longer blocks progress

A single choice to escape a place or situation

47 3.5

To a great degree and in an impressive way

40 4.8

A natural skill for dealing with people or animals

way back when
  • Informal
40 7.3

A long time ago

37 6.0

Find out by going through a difficult or painful experience instead of being warned

20 4.2

Allow someone to do or choose what they want

from way back
  • Informal
18 7.7

Since a long time ago

In a place far from towns and not often visited

every which way
  • Informal
16 4.9

In many different directions in a messy, random way

14 6.0

Very sick or having serious money problems

10 8.2

To have sex with someone

How people usually behave and how things usually happen

Unusual in a way that does not follow normal rules

To find out what most people think before you act

To stop being used and disappear completely

To work well with children so they feel comfortable

1 8.6

To act toward a woman without respect

People stop using something because new things replace it

1 3.0

By a much larger amount than others

1 9.2

The death that comes to everyone

To stop living as a natural part of life

Shows deep, real feeling and care when speaking or acting

out of the way
  • Offensive
1 8.2

Killed to stop someone who is a threat or obstacle

1 8.4

A woman who is pregnant

1 7.4

Helps in a small, quiet, personal way

In a general way without details

To make a lot of money while pretending to complain

1 9.5

To try every possible way to do something

A choice that causes failure or big trouble

To get a high job or power by being dishonest

To reach the top by fighting and pushing through many problems

Making a lot of money while pretending to be unhappy

To be very bad at even simple tasks

To keep doing something happily without worrying about problems

With many careful details and clear planning

Create chances to move forward in your career

8.0

Decide you can do something after problems are solved

To wait and see how a situation turns out before deciding

Compounds

729 2.0

An exit like a door that you use to leave a place

193 2.4

The usual habits, beliefs, and actions of a person or group

159 2.7

Allowing travel in only one direction

73 3.2

Allowing movement and communication in both directions between two sides

way-out
  • Archaic
68 8.1

Very unusual and far from normal in ideas or style

62 3.7

A group of stars that contains our solar system and looks like a band of light in the night sky

A ticket that lets you travel to a place but not back

A road where cars can travel in both directions

Skill at speaking or writing in a pleasant, convincing way

right of way
  • Formal
13 4.9

Permission to pass through someone else's land

A large group of stars that contains the solar system and looks like a faint milky band in the sky

merry way
  • Informal
11 4.6

To go on happily after leaving someone or somewhere

one-way street
  • Informal
11 5.4

A situation where only one person gives and the other only takes

A street where cars can travel in only one direction

8 3.9

A small stop on a route where people pause before continuing

8 3.9

A rule that lets one vehicle go before others at a crossing

A longer route that goes around a blocked road to reach a place

Far from towns and not easy to reach

A part of Broadway in New York City with bright lights and many theaters

A phone feature that lets three people talk together at the same time

1 8.9

An old Roman road from Rome to Brindisi built in 312 BC

A method for reaching or talking to someone

Already finished and no longer needing attention

A cheerful relaxed way of speaking that shows no worry

three-way switch
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A device that lets you turn a light on or off from two different places

Not usual and often interesting or surprising

An ancient Roman road north from Rome used by soldiers and traders

rummy way
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A strange way of behaving that other people find odd

Rude and likely to offend people

apex of the sun's way
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Point in the sky showing the direction the Sun and solar system move among the stars

9.9

A way of acting that flatters a person, often a boss, to get favour

nancy way
  • Slur
9.9

A way of behaving that shows you are very gentle and easily upset, often used to insult men

neato way
  • Slang
9.9

A clever, simple trick for doing something more easily

one-way light time
  • Specialized
9.6

The time a light signal takes to travel in one direction from Earth to a planet like Mars

toadeater way
  • Offensive
9.9

Acting in a flattering way to gain favor from someone in power

How Much

majority
∞ 2.1
share
663 1.6
way
84 3.0
portion
60 1.3
piece
∞ 1.0
bit
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

way singular
ways plural

Etymology

Way in the sense of sharing, as in 'split three ways', comes from the idea of different 'directions' or 'courses' to divide something. A helpful way to remember is to imagine cutting something along different paths so each 'way' is a 'part' or share.