way

/weɪ/

/weɪ/

Other forms: ways

The means by which you go about doing something is the way you do it. Although you "cleaned" your room, the way you did it — shoving everything into your closet — didn't exactly solve the problem.

Your manner of behavior or how you usually conduct yourself is also called your way. If it's not your way to let someone be bullied, you'll stand up for kids being pushed around, even if the bully is twice your size. A road or path can also be called a way. The Queen Elizabeth Way is a highway in Ontario, Canada, for example.

Definitions of way

1. noun

   how something is done or how it happens
   “a lonely way of life”

   synonyms: fashion, manner, modality, mode, style

   types:

   artistic style, idiom

   the style of a particular artist or school or movement

   drape

   the manner in which fabric hangs or falls

   fit

   the manner in which something fits

   form

   a particular mode in which something is manifested

   life style, life-style, lifestyle, modus vivendi

   a manner of living that reflects the person's values and attitudes

   setup

   the way something is organized or arranged

   signature, touch

   a distinguishing style

   wise

   a way of doing or being

   response

   the manner in which an electrical or mechanical device responds to an input signal or a range of input signals

   baroque, baroqueness

   elaborate and extensive ornamentation in decorative art and architecture that flourished in Europe in the 17th century

   classical style

   the artistic style of ancient Greek art with its emphasis on proportion and harmony

   order

   (architecture) one of original three styles of Greek architecture distinguished by the type of column and entablature used or a style developed from the original three by the Romans

   rococo

   fanciful but graceful asymmetric ornamentation in art and architecture that originated in France in the 18th century

   High Renaissance

   the artistic style of early 16th century painting in Florence and Rome; characterized by technical mastery and heroic composition and humanistic content

   treatment

   a manner of dealing with something artistically

   fast lane

   a hectic and pressured lifestyle often characterized by recklessness or dissipation

   free living

   a lifestyle given to easy indulgence of the appetites

   vanity fair

   a vain and frivolous lifestyle especially in large cities

   common touch

   the property of appealing to people in general (usually by appearing to have qualities in common with them)

   hang

   the way a garment hangs

   neoclassicism

   revival of a classical style (in art or literature or architecture or music) but from a new perspective or with a new motivation

   classicalism, classicism

   a movement in literature and art during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe that favored rationality and restraint and strict forms

   Romantic Movement, Romanticism

   a movement in literature and art during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that celebrated nature rather than civilization

   type of:

   property

   a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class
2. noun

   how a result is obtained or an end is achieved
   “the true way to success”

   synonyms: agency, means

   types:

   dint

   force or effort; interchangeable with 'means' in the expression 'by means of'

   escape

   a means or way of escaping

   fast track

   a rapid means of achieving a goal

   instrument, tool

   the means whereby some act is accomplished

   road

   a way or means to achieve something

   stepping stone

   any means of advancement

   expedient

   a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one

   desperate measure

   desperate actions taken as a means to an end

   open sesame

   any very successful means of achieving a result

   salvation

   a means of preserving from harm or unpleasantness

   tooth

   a means of enforcement

   voice

   a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated

   wings

   a means of flight or ascent

   royal road

   an auspicious way or means to achieve something

   make-do, makeshift, stopgap

   something contrived to meet an urgent need or emergency

   crutch

   anything that serves as an expedient

   improvisation, temporary expedient

   an unplanned expedient

   last resort, pis aller

   an expedient adopted only in desperation

   type of:

   effectuation, implementation

   the act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something); carrying into effect
3. noun

   the condition of things generally
   “that's the way it is”

   “I felt the same way”

   type of:

   condition, status

   a state at a particular time
4. noun

   a course of conduct
   “we went our separate ways”

   synonyms: path, way of life

   types:

   ambages

   (archaic) roundabout or mysterious ways of action

   primrose path

   a life of ease and pleasure

   straight and narrow, strait and narrow

   the way of proper and honest behavior

   Sunna, Sunnah, hadith

   (Islam) the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad and interpretations of the Koran

   warpath

   a course leading to warfare or battle

   type of:

   course, course of action

   a mode of action
5. noun

   doing as one pleases or chooses
   “if I had my way”

   type of:

   choice, pick, selection

   the person or thing chosen or selected
6. noun

   space for movement
   “make way for”

   synonyms: elbow room, room

   types:

   seating, seating area, seating room, seats

   an area that includes places where several people can sit

   standing room

   room for passengers or spectators to stand

   breathing room, breathing space

   sufficient room for easy breathing or movement

   clearance, headroom, headway

   vertical space available to allow easy passage under something

   houseroom

   space for accommodation in a house

   lebensraum, living space

   territory sought for occupation by a nation whose population is expanding, especially Nazi Germany

   parking

   space in which vehicles can be parked

   sea room

   space for maneuver at sea

   circle, dress circle

   a curved section or tier of seats in a hall or theater or opera house; usually the first tier above the orchestra

   orchestra

   seating on the main floor in a theater

   parquet

   seating on the main floor between the orchestra and the parquet circle

   parquet circle, parterre

   seating at the rear of the main floor (beneath the balconies)

   ringside, ringside seat

   first row of seating; has an unobstructed view of a boxing or wrestling ring

   stall

   seating in the forward part of the main level of a theater

   tiered seat

   seating that is arranged in sloping tiers so that spectators in the back can see over the heads of those in front

   type of:

   position, spatial relation

   the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated
7. noun

   the property of distance in general
   “it's a long way to Moscow”

   “he went a long ways”

   type of:

   distance

   the property created by the space between two objects or points
8. noun

   a line leading to a place or point
   “didn't know the way home”

   synonyms: direction

   types:

   aim, bearing, heading

   the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies

   course, trend

   general line of orientation

   east-west direction

   in a direction parallel with lines of latitude

   north-south direction

   in a direction parallel with lines of longitude

   qibla

   the direction of the Kaaba toward which Muslims turn for their daily prayers

   tendency, trend

   a general direction in which something tends to move

   tack

   the heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails

   type of:

   itinerary, path, route

   an established line of travel or access
9. noun

   any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another
   “he said he was looking for the way out”

   types:

   access, approach

   a way of entering or leaving

   lane

   a narrow way or road

   passage

   a way through or along which someone or something may pass

   path

   a way especially designed for a particular use

   road, route

   an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

   staircase, stairway

   a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

   watercourse, waterway

   a conduit through which water flows

   access road, slip road

   a short road giving access to an expressway

   adit

   a nearly horizontal passage from the surface into a mine

   aisle

   a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)

   backstairs

   a second staircase at the rear of a building

   bridle path, bridle road

   a path suitable for riding or leading horses (but not for cars)

   bypath, byroad, byway

   a side road little traveled (as in the countryside)

   canal

   long and narrow strip of water made for boats or for irrigation

   causeway

   a road that is raised above water or marshland or sand

   channel

   a passage for water (or other fluids) to flow through

   clearway

   a road on which you are not allowed to stop (unless you have a breakdown)

   companionway

   a stairway or ladder that leads from one deck to another on a ship

   conduit

   a passage (a pipe or tunnel) through which water or electric wires can pass

   corduroy

   a road made of logs laid crosswise

   crossing, crossover, crosswalk

   a path (often marked) where something (as a street or railroad) can be crossed to get from one side to the other

   cul, cul de sac, dead end

   a passage with access only at one end

   detour, roundabout way

   a roundabout road (especially one that is used temporarily while a main route is blocked)

   drive, parkway

   a wide scenic road planted with trees

   drive, driveway, private road

   a road leading up to a private house

   entrance, entranceway, entree, entry, entryway

   something that provides access (to get in or get out)

   escalator, moving staircase, moving stairway

   a stairway whose steps move continuously on a circulating belt

   emergency exit, fire escape

   a stairway (often on the outside of a building) that permits exit in the case of fire or other emergency

   fish ladder

   a series of ascending pools providing a passage for salmon to swim upstream past a dam

   flight, flight of stairs, flight of steps

   a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next

   flume

   watercourse that consists of an open artificial chute filled with water for power or for carrying logs

   ghat

   stairway in India leading down to a landing on the water

   headrace

   a waterway that feeds water to a mill or water wheel or turbine

   highway, main road

   a major road for any form of motor transport

   lane

   a well-defined track or path; for e.g. swimmers or lines of traffic

   line, rail line, railway line

   the road consisting of railroad track and roadbed

   passageway

   a passage between rooms or between buildings

   footpath, pathway

   a trodden path

   post road

   a road over which mail is carried

   right of way

   the passage consisting of a path or strip of land over which someone has the legal right to pass

   roadway

   a road (especially that part of a road) over which vehicles travel

   shaft

   a long vertical passage sunk into the earth, as for a mine or tunnel

   crosscut, cutoff, shortcut

   a route shorter than the usual one

   side road

   a minor road branching off of a main road

   skid road

   a road made of logs on which freshly cut timber can be hauled

   speedway

   road where high speed driving is allowed

   stairs, steps

   a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

   tailrace

   a watercourse that carries water away from a mill or water wheel or turbine

   thoroughfare

   a public road from one place to another

   throat

   a passage resembling a throat in shape or function

   towing path, towpath

   a path along a canal or river used by animals towing boats

   cart track, cartroad, track

   any road or path affording passage especially a rough one

   turnoff

   a side road where you can turn off

   paseo, walk, walkway

   a path set aside for walking

   ramp

   a movable staircase that passengers use to board or leave an aircraft

   type of:

   artefact, artifact

   a man-made object taken as a whole
10. noun

    a journey or passage
    “they are on the way”

    type of:

    journey, journeying

    the act of traveling from one place to another
11. noun

    a general category of things; used in the expression `in the way of'
    “they didn't have much in the way of clothing”

    type of:

    category

    a general concept that marks divisions or coordinations in a conceptual scheme
12. noun

    a portion of something divided into shares
    “they split the loot three ways”

    type of:

    part, percentage, portion, share

    assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group
13. adverb

    to a great degree or by a great distance; very much (`right smart' is regional in the United States)
    “way over budget”

    “way off base”

    synonyms: right smart