way 1 of 2

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as in room
an extent or area available for or used up by some activity or thing made way for them to pass

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves go the same way that the school bus does

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in doorway
the opening through which one can enter or leave a structure we came in the back way

Synonyms & Similar Words

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way

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word way different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of way are fashion, manner, method, mode, and system. While all these words mean "the means taken or procedure followed in achieving an end," way is very general and may be used for any of the preceding words.

has her own way of doing things

In what contexts can fashion take the place of way?

Although the words fashion and way have much in common, fashion may suggest a peculiar or characteristic way of doing something.

rushing about in his typical fashion

How are the words manner and mode related as synonyms of way?

Manner is close to mode but may imply a procedure or method that is individual or distinctive.

an odd manner of conducting

When would method be a good substitute for way?

The synonyms method and way are sometimes interchangeable, but method implies an orderly logical arrangement usually in steps.

effective teaching methods

Where would mode be a reasonable alternative to way?

The words mode and way are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mode implies an order or course followed by custom, tradition, or personal preference.

the preferred mode of transportation

When might system be a better fit than way?

In some situations, the words system and way are roughly equivalent. However, system suggests a fully developed or carefully formulated method often emphasizing rational orderliness.

a filing system

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of way
Noun
This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2025 During these inspections, travelers may be questioned or their electronic devices looked through as a way to confirm their identity and reasons for being in the U.S. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 May 2025
Adverb
But the Panthers challenged for offside, and indeed four seconds before, Eric Robinson was way over the offensive blue line when the puck entered. Michael Russo, New York Times, 26 May 2025 Not only do people spend way too much time getting wrapped up in equipment, Brady says, but that investment can ultimately get in the way of the experience as stuff starts to break, get lost, or get stolen. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for way
Recent Examples of Synonyms for way
Noun
  • But, the fastest ever pure-petrol road car at the first attempt is a pretty good result too.
    Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Inside the cozy cockpit, leather, burl wood, and side curtains with sliding plastic windows take the driver back many decades to a time when radios were an optional nuisance—all that mattered was the vehicle and the road.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Standout Interviewee Habits: How to Take Things to the Next Level Deliver a clear personal pitch To stand out from the crowd, Marino-Briggs recommends a few key habits.
    Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • In addition, he’s also made a habit of gathering a handful of players together every night for a dinner at the Cowboys’ members-only speakeasy restaurant on the top level of The Star in Frisco, Cowboys Club.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • The path to infection The most common way people swimming inland get sick is by swallowing the water.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 23 May 2025
  • Aging is being redefined not as a linear path to decline, but as a modifiable, and in some ways reversible, biological process.
    Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • As the graph shows below, Bellingham, like most of Real Madrid midfielders, has a tendency to hold on to the ball, whereas Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen midfield is defined by quick and incisive short passes.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Currently, some prescribing physicians are likely unaware if patients have disordered eating tendencies, either because the symptoms slip through the cracks, the patient actively conceals them, or the patient is too embarrassed to bring them up, Wassenaar explained.
    Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Kim eventually found a room in another 5th District home on Jan. 10 and changed her California driver’s registration that same day, according to the complaint.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • The two share a room and sleep in matching twin beds, spending their days shopping for just the right brand of pickles or sunning themselves on the boardwalk.
    Rachel Handler, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Read Next Business Charlotte airport adds airline for first direct route from NC to the Middle East May 16, 2025 9:05 AM Still, from Thursday, May 22, through next Tuesday, Charlotte Douglas is anticipating more than 970,000 passenger arrivals and departures, according to the airport.
    Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2025
  • The bus route that passed through it never returned.
    Meg Anderson, NPR, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Establish a new culture, replacing the emotionless, do-your-job style of Bill Belichick with a more modern, player-friendly approach.
    Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 27 May 2025
  • The immediate alternative keeps readers engaged to learn the better approach and take corrective action.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Inside, three bedrooms and four baths are spread across almost 2,300 square feet of multi-level living space boasting a mix of stone and wide-plank French oak floors, arched doorways, and whitewashed wood-beam ceilings dotted with skylights.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 23 May 2025
  • It must be asked not as condemnation, but as a doorway to deeper understanding—of her, of ourselves, and of the social and emotional architecture that keeps so many of us bound in silence, shame, and survival.
    Shayla Brown, Essence, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/way. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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