/ Dictionary / Index W way: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: way Pronunciation: (wā), [key] — n. manner, mode, or fashion: a new way of looking at a matter; to reply in a polite way. characteristic or habitual manner: Her way is to work quietly and never complain. a method, plan, or means for attaining a goal: to find a way to reduce costs. a respect or particular: The plan is defective in several ways. a direction or vicinity: Look this way. We're having a drought out our way. passage or progress on a course: to make one's way on foot; to lead the way. Often,distance: They've come a long way. a path or course leading from one place to another: What's the shortest way to town? Icknield Way. an old Roman or pre-Roman road:Icknield Way. a minor street in a town:He lives in Stepney Way. a road, route, passage, or channel (usually used in combination): highway; waterway; doorway. a right of way. any line of passage or travel, used or available: to blaze a way through dense woods. space for passing or advancing: to clear a way through the crowd. Often,a habit or custom: The grandmother lived by the ways of the old country. course or mode of procedure that one chooses or wills: They had to do it my way. condition, as to health, prosperity, or the like: to be in a bad way. range or extent of experience or notice: the best device that ever came in my way. a course of life, action, or experience: The way of transgressors is hard. business: to be in the haberdashery way. ways,two or more ground ways down which a hull slides in being launched. movement or passage through the water. a longitudinal strip, as in a planer, guiding a moving part along a surface. in the course of one's remarks; incidentally: By the way, have you received that letter yet? to number articles by way of distinguishing them. by the route of; through; via. as a method or means of:to number articles by way of distinguishing them. Brit.in the state or position of (being, doing, etc.); ostensibly:He is by way of being an authority on the subject. to come to one; befall one: A bit of good fortune came my way. The army gave way before the advance of the enemy. to withdraw or retreat:The army gave way before the advance of the enemy. to collapse; yield; break down:You will surely give way under the strain of overwork. He gave way to their entreaties. to yield to:He gave way to their entreaties. to become unrestrained or uninhibited; lose control of (one's temper, emotions, etc.):I gave way to my rage and ordered them from the house. Neither side wants to go all the way with nuclear warfare. to do completely or wholeheartedly. to take a decisive action, esp. one from which no retreat is possible:Neither side wants to go all the way with nuclear warfare. to engage in sexual intercourse. to do something that inconveniences one; make an unusual effort: Please don't go out of your way on my account. to have a charming, persuasive, or effective manner of dealing with: He has a way with children; to have a way with words. (esp. of a man) to have sexual intercourse with, sometimes by intimidating or forcing one's partner. pregnant. after a fashion; to some extent: In a way, she's the nicest person I know. forming a hindrance, impediment, or obstruction: She might have succeeded in her ambition, had not circumstances been in her way. In fashion she has always led the way. to go along a course in advance of others, as a guide. to take the initiative; be first or most prominent:In fashion she has always led the way. to make one's way through the mud. to go forward; proceed:to make one's way through the mud. to achieve recognition or success; advance:to make one's way in the world. Make way for the king! to allow to pass; clear the way:Make way for the king! to relinquish to another; withdraw:He resigned to make way for a younger man. Naut.to make forward or astern progress even though engines are not running. not under any circumstances; no: Apologize to him? No way! I feel better, now that one problem is out of the way. in a state or condition so as not to obstruct or hinder. dealt with; disposed of:I feel better, now that one problem is out of the way. murdered:to have a person put out of the way. out of the frequented way; at a distance from the usual route. improper; amiss:There was something decidedly out of the way about her explanation. extraordinary; unusual:Such behavior was out of the way for him. See(def. 2). to regard as suitable or possible; consider seriously: We couldn't see our way clear to spending so much money at once. to start out; travel; go: He took his way across the park and headed uptown. way Pronunciation: (wā), [key] — adv. away; from this or that place: Go way. to a great degree or at quite a distance; far: way too heavy; way down the road. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. 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