way

Main Entry:: ¹way
Pronunciation:: \ˈwā\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English, from Old English weg; akin to Old High German weg way, Old English wegan to move, Latin vehere to carry, via way
Date:: before 12th century

1 a: a thoroughfare for travel or transportation from place to place b: an opening for passage <this door is the only way out of the room>2: the course traveled from one place to another : route <asked the way to the museum>3 a: a course (as a series of actions or sequence of events) leading in a direction or toward an objective <led the way to eventual open heart operations — Current Biography> b (1): a course of action <took the easy way out> (2): opportunity, capability, or fact of doing as one pleases <always manages to get her own way> c: a possible decision, action, or outcome : possibility <they were rude—no two ways about it>4 a: manner or method of doing or happening <admired her way of thinking> ; also : method of accomplishing : means <that's the way to do it> b: feature , respect <in no way resembles her mother> c: a usually specified degree of participation in an activity or enterprise <active in real estate in a small way>5 a: characteristic, regular, or habitual manner or mode of being, behaving, or happening <knows nothing of the ways of women> b: ability to get along well or perform well <she has a way with kids> <a way with words>6: the length of a course : distance <has come a long way in her studies> <still have a way to go>7: movement or progress along a course <worked her way up the corporate ladder>8 a: direction <is coming this way> b: participant —usually used in combination <three-way discussion>9: state of affairs : condition , state <that's the way things are>10 aplural but sometimes sing in constr : an inclined structure upon which a ship is built or supported in launching bplural : the guiding surfaces on the bed of a machine along which a table or carriage moves11: category , kind —usually used in the phrase in the way of<doesn't require much in the way of expensive equipment — Forbes>12: motion or speed of a ship or boat through the water

synonyms see method

— all the way

: to the full or entire extent : as far as possible <ran all the way home> <seated all the way in the back>

— by the way

: by way of interjection or digression : incidentally

— by way of

1: for the purpose of2: by the route through : via

— in a way

1: within limits : with reservations2: from one point of view

— in one's way also in the way

1: in a position to be encountered by one : in or along one's course <an opportunity had been put in my way — Ellen Glasgow>2: in a position to hinder or obstruct

— on the way or on one's way

: moving along in one's course : in progress

— out of the way

1: wrong , improper <didn't know I'd said anything out of the way>2 a: in or to a secluded place b: unusual , remarkable <there's nothing out of the way about the plan>3: done , completed <got his homework out of the way>

— the way

1: in view of the manner in which <you'd think she was rich, the way she spends money>2: like , as <we have cats the way other people have mice — James Thurber>

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