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way

way

1.0
How someone does something or how it happens
  • noun
  • /weɪ/
translation icon : manera
  • There is a right and wrong way to be a man.
  • the same way
  • one way
  • the best way

But that's not the way it is in life.

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Examples

  • There is no right way to do anything.

  • It's the only possible way to move past that.

  • There has to be some way to do that there.

  • You can focus on the way that you taste food.

  • And that is why I am the way I am today.

  • What a delicious way to spend our lives.

  • The invention of the steam engine changed the way we traveled and moved goods and services.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I'm treating her the way that she deserves to be treated.

  • Look, there's only one way of dealing with this.

  • There is no right way to do anything in life; everyone has their own approach.

Synonyms

style
vsway
3.4

A distinctive way people dress or behave that shows taste

is the neutral term not focused on appearance or trend
method
vsway
2.2

A planned way of doing something, often in clear steps

is broader, applying to that plan and many other ways of doing things
technique
vsway
879 3.3

A way of doing something you learn by practice to do well

is more general, referring to the form or manner rather than skill
means
vsway
842 2.7

A method or tool used to achieve something

is the wider term that includes instruments, methods, and styles
path
vsway
824 2.1

A way of doing things that a person chooses to follow

is a general term for methods or manners, not only chosen paths
fashion
vsway
443 1.6

A particular way of doing something

is the broader word that need not imply trend or commonness
manner
vsway
398 1.0

The way something is done or happens

is the common umbrella term for manner, style, and method
mode
vsway
233 2.8

A way of doing or experiencing something

covers that particular form but also other kinds of doing or happening

Idioms

1.8

Completely from the start to the finish

663 1.0

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

634 3.2

To some extent from a certain point of view

519 2.4

Something that stops progress or blocks movement

by the way
  • Informal
448 1.5

To introduce a new topic that is not directly related

356 2.6

Moved aside so it does not block people

255 3.6

To make a big difference

134 3.7

Finished so it no longer blocks progress

In the opposite order, direction, or situation

To help a lot or make something much better

the hard way
  • Informal
76 5.4

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

72 2.9

To reach a place or result through something else

47 4.8

A natural skill for dealing with people or animals

out of the way
  • Offensive
38 8.2

Killed to stop someone who is a threat or obstacle

38 3.5

To a great degree and in an impressive way

A single choice to escape a place or situation

23 8.2

To have sex with someone

way back when
  • Informal
22 7.3

A long time ago

22 6.0

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

Keeping someone from doing something by blocking them or causing problems

17 6.0

Very sick or having serious money problems

16 4.2

Allow someone to do or choose what they want

every which way
  • Informal
12 4.9

In many different directions in a messy, random way

In a place far from towns and not often visited

How people usually behave and how things usually happen

6 3.0

Already started and continuing now

from way back
  • Informal
5 7.7

Since a long time ago

3 8.0

Decide you can do something after problems are solved

To keep doing something happily without worrying about problems

Unusual in a way that does not follow normal rules

To stop being used and disappear completely

2 8.4

A woman who is pregnant

1 3.0

By a much larger amount than others

To get a high job or power by being dishonest

People stop using something because new things replace it

To work well with children so they feel comfortable

1 9.2

The death that comes to everyone

To reach the top by fighting and pushing through many problems

To be very bad at even simple tasks

To stop living as a natural part of life

Shows deep, real feeling and care when speaking or acting

To make a lot of money while pretending to complain

Making a lot of money while pretending to be unhappy

9.5

To try every possible way to do something

In a general way without details

With many careful details and clear planning

7.4

Helps in a small, quiet, personal way

8.6

To act toward a woman without respect

A choice that causes failure or big trouble

Create chances to move forward in your career

To wait and see how a situation turns out before deciding

To find out what most people think before you act

Compounds

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

111 2.7

Allowing travel in only one direction

52 3.7

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

31 3.2

Allowing movement and communication in both directions between two sides

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

Skill at speaking or writing in a pleasant, convincing way

10 3.9

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

Far from towns and not easy to reach

Already finished and no longer needing attention

A method for reaching or talking to someone

way-out
  • Archaic
8 8.1

Very unusual and far from normal in ideas or style

A street where cars can travel in only one direction

merry way
  • Informal
5 4.6

To go on happily after leaving someone or somewhere

A road where cars can travel in both directions

4 3.9

A small stop on a route where people pause before continuing

right of way
  • Formal
4 4.9

Permission to pass through someone else's land

one-way street
  • Informal
3 5.4

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

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

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

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

Not usual and often interesting or surprising

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

apex of the sun's way
  • Specialized
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

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

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

A cheerful relaxed way of speaking that shows no worry

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

rummy way
  • Archaic
9.9

A strange way of behaving that other people find odd

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

Rude and likely to offend people

three-way switch
  • Specialized
5.5

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

toadeater way
  • Offensive
9.9

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

How Formal

protocol
  • Formal
309 5.6
method
2.2
way
1.0
manner
186 1.0
casual
194 2.8

Surface Forms

way singular
ways plural

Etymology

Way comes from an old English word weg meaning 'path' or 'road'. Think of a road for actions — a 'way' is the path you take to do something, so it means 'manner' or 'method'.