lane

1 of 2

noun

1
: a narrow passageway between fences or hedges
2
: a relatively narrow way or track: such as
a
: an ocean route used by or prescribed for ships
b
: a strip of roadway for a single line of vehicles
c
d
: any of several parallel courses on a track or swimming pool in which a competitor must stay during a race
e
: an unmarked lengthwise division of a playing area which defines the playing zone of a particular player
f
: a narrow hardwood surface having pins at one end and a gutter along each side that is used in bowling

lane

2 of 2

Scottish variant of lone

Examples of lane in a Sentence

Noun The truck's driver kept changing lanes. She moved to the outside lane.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The freeway reopened shortly before 7 p.m. The gunshot came from the westbound lanes of I-94 and struck the victim's vehicle in the eastbound lanes of I-94, per a preliminary investigation. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 18 Mar. 2024 Crews shut down lanes in the area for a period as the crash was investigated. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2024 Guests with no bags or clutches smaller than 4 inches by 6 inches can use Evolv express entry lanes for quickest entry. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 More:All lanes of I-64 to I-65 closed due to fatal collision with pedestrian. The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2024 Target is also opening more traditional lanes staffed by cashiers. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 The patrol says a 2014 Volvo tractor-trailer combination struck Harden's Equinox in the left lane. The Enquirer, 14 Mar. 2024 The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m., when a pickup truck going south dropped cases of the stuff onto the road, blocking the lanes merging onto Interstate 5 from Lyons Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley and Soto Street on the Eastside, among dozens of others, would get new bike lanes. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English lanu; akin to Middle Dutch lane lane

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lane was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lane

Cite this Entry

“Lane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lane. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lane

noun
ˈlān
1
: a narrow way or road usually between fences, hedges, or buildings
2
: a somewhat narrow way or track: as
a
: an ocean route for ships
also : air lane
b
: a strip of roadway for a single line of vehicles
c
: a bowling alley

Biographical Definition

Lane

biographical name

Edward William 1801–1876 English orientalist

More from Merriam-Webster on lane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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