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, ways. distance

They've come a long way.

a path or course leading from one place to another

What's the shortest way to town?

British .

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.

Law . 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, ways. 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.

Informal . business

to be in the haberdashery way.

Nautical .

ways, two or more ground ways down which a hull slides in being launched.

movement or passage through the water.

Machinery . a longitudinal strip, as in a planer, guiding a moving part along a surface. ?

by the way

in the course of one's remarks; incidentally

By the way, have you received that letter yet?

by way of

by the route of; through; via.

as a method or means of

to number articles by way of distinguishing them.

British . in the state or position of (being, doing, etc.); ostensibly

He is by way of being an authority on the subject.

come one's way

to come to one; befall one

A bit of good fortune came my way.

give way

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.

give way to

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.

go all the way

Slang .

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.

go out of one's way

to do something that inconveniences one; make an unusual effort

Please don't go out of your way on my account.

have a way with, to have a charming, persuasive

or effective manner of dealing with

He has a way with children; to have a way with words.

have one's way with, (esp. of a man) to have sexual intercourse with

sometimes by intimidating or forcing one's partner.

in a family way

pregnant.

in a way

after a fashion; to some extent

In a way, she's the nicest person I know.

in someone's way, forming a hindrance, impediment

or obstruction

She might have succeeded in her ambition, had not circumstances been in her way. Also, in the way.

lead 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.

make one's way

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

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.

Nautical . to make forward or astern progress even though engines are not running.

no way

Informal . not under any circumstances; no

Apologize to him? No way!

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.

pave the way to or for. pave ( def. 3 ) .

see one's way clear

to regard as suitable or possible; consider seriously

We couldn't see our way clear to spending so much money at once. Also, see one's way.

take one's way

to start out; travel; go

He took his way across the park and headed uptown.

noun

action , approach , contrivance , course , course of action , custom , design , expedient , fashion , form , groove * , habit , habitude , hang-up * , hook * , idea , instrument , kick , manner , means , measure , mode , modus , move , outline , plan , plot , policy , practice , procedure , process , scheme , shot , step , stroke , style , system , tack , thing * , usage , use , vehicle , wise , wont , access , admission , admittance , advance , alternative , artery , avenue , bearing , boulevard , byway , channel , distance , door , drag * , elbowroom , entrance , entre , entry , extent , forward motion , gate , gateway , headway , highway , ingress , journey , lane , length , line , march , movement , opening , orbit , passage , path , pathway , progress , progression , ride , road , room , row , space , stone’s throw , street , stretch , tendency , thataway , thoroughfare , track , trail , trend , walk , aspect , behavior , circumstance , condition , conduct , consuetude , detail , feature , fettle , gait , groove , guise , hook , idiosyncrasy , kick * , nature , particular , personality , point , praxis , respect , sense , shape , situation , state , status , tone , trait , trick , drive , expressway , freeway , roadway , route , superhighway , thruway , turnpike , method , modus operandi , usance , comportment , deportment , alley , career , detour , device , direction , going , interval , modus vivendi , order , pass , technique , transit , via