waythe condition of things; how something is done or how it happens; a pathway: This is the way you get to the pool.Not to be confused with:weigh ? determine the weight of something; to ponder and consider: Weigh your decision before going forward.; to consider one?s words carefully: Weigh your words before you speak.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreeway (w?)n.1. a. A road, path, or highway affording passage from one place to another.b. An opening affording passage: This door is the only way into the attic.2. a. Space to proceed: cleared the way for the parade.b. Opportunity to advance: opened the way to peace.3. a. A course that is or may be used in going from one place to another: tried to find the shortest way home.b. Progress or travel along a certain route or in a specific direction: on her way north.c. often ways(Used with a sing. verb) Informal Distance: The travelers have come a long way. That village is a good ways off.4. a. A course of conduct or action: tried to take the easy way out of the mess he was in.b. A manner or method of doing something: several ways of solving this problem; had no way to reach her. See Synonyms at method.c. Used with a personal pronoun as the object of various verbs to indicate progress toward an objective: elbowed his way through the crowd; talked my way into the club; worked his way into a better job.d. A usual or habitual manner or mode of being, living, or acting: the American way of life.e. An individual or personal manner of behaving, acting, or doing: Have it your own way.5. a. A specific direction: He glanced my way.b. A participant. Often used in combination: a three-way conversation.6. a. An aspect, particular, or feature: resembles his father in many ways; in no way comparable.b. Nature or category: not much in the way of a plot.7. Freedom to do as one wishes: if I had my way.8. An aptitude or facility: She certainly does have a way with words.9. A state or condition: He is in a bad way financially.10. Vicinity: Drop in when you’re out our way.11. often ways A longitudinal strip on a surface that serves to guide a moving machine part.12. ways(used with a sing. or pl. verb) Nautical The structure on which a ship is built and from which it slides when launched.adv.1. Informal By a great distance or to a great degree; far: way off base; way too expensive.2. Slang Very; extremely: “Can they really make a car that’s way cool?” (Fortune).3. Informal From this place; away: Go way.4. Informal Used in response to no way to indicate affirmation contradicting a negative assertion.Idioms: all the way From beginning to end; completely: drove all the way from Detroit to Pittsburgh. by the way Incidentally: By the way, you forgot to cash that check. by way of1. Through; via: flew to the Far East by way of the polar route.2. As a means of: made no comment by way of apology.go out of (one’s)/the way To inconvenience oneself in doing something beyond what is required. in a way1. To a certain extent; with reservations: I like the new styles, in a way.2. From one point of view: In a way, you’re right. in the way In a position to obstruct, hinder, or interfere. no way Informal Certainly not: Did you like that movie??No way! It was boring.on (one’s)/the way In the process of coming, going, or traveling: She is on her way out the door. Winter is on the way. on the way On the route of a journey: met him on the way to town; ran into them on the way. out of the way1. In such a position as not to obstruct, hinder, or interfere.2. Taken care of; disposed of: some details to get out of the way first.3. In a remote location.4. Of an unusual character; remarkable.5. Improper; amiss: said nothing out of the way. the way In the manner that: The way he talks, you’d think he ran the company. under way1. In motion or operation.2. In ongoing development; in progress.[Middle English, from Old English weg; see wegh- in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: Way has long been an intensifying adverb meaning “to a great degree,” as in way over budget. This usage is both acceptable and common but has an informal ring. Way is also used as a general intensifier, as in way cool and way depressing. This usage remains a hallmark of casual speech and is not appropriate for formal contexts. · In American English ways is often used as an equivalent of way in phrases such as a long ways to go. This usage is considered nonstandard by most editors, though it appears occasionally in less formal texts.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.way (we?) n1. a manner, method, or means: a way of life; a way of knowing. 2. (Navigation) a route or direction: the way home. 3. (Navigation) a. a means or line of passage, such as a path or trackb. (in combination): waterway. 4. space or room for movement or activity (esp in the phrases make way, in the way, out of the way)5. distance, usually distance in general: you’ve come a long way. 6. a passage or journey: on the way. 7. characteristic style or manner: I did it in my own way. 8. (often plural) habits; idiosyncrasies: he has some offensive ways. 9. an aspect of something; particular: in many ways he was right. 10. (Human Geography) a. a street in or leading out of a townb. (capital when part of a street name): Icknield Way. 11. something that one wants in a determined manner (esp in the phrases get or have one’s (own) way)12. the experience or sphere in which one comes into contact with things (esp in the phrase come one’s way)13. informal a state or condition, usually financial or concerning health (esp in the phrases in a good (or bad) way)14. informal the area or direction of one’s home: drop in if you’re ever over my way. 15. (Nautical Terms) movement of a ship or other vessel16. (Law) a right of way in law17. (General Engineering) a guide along which something can be moved, such as the surface of a lathe along which the tailstock slides18. (Nautical Terms) (plural) the wooden or metal tracks down which a ship slides to be launched19. a course of life including experiences, conduct, etc: the way of sin. 20. (Professions) archaic calling or trade21. by the way (sentence modifier) in passing or incidentally22. by way of a. viab. serving as: by way of introduction. c. in the state or condition of: by way of being an artist. 23. (Gambling, except Cards) each way (of a bet) laid on a horse, dog, etc, to win or gain a place24. give way a. to collapse or break downb. to withdraw or yield25. give way to a. to step aside for or stop forb. to give full rein to (emotions, etc)26. go out of one’s way to take considerable trouble or inconvenience oneself27. have a way with to have such a manner or skill as to handle successfully28. have it both ways to enjoy two things that would normally contradict each other or be mutually exclusive29. in a way in some respects30. in no way not at all31. lead the way a. to go firstb. to set an example or precedent32. make one’s way a. to proceed or advanceb. to achieve success in life33. no way informal that is impossible34. on the way out informal a. becoming unfashionable, obsolete, etcb. dying35. out of the way a. removed or dealt with so as to be no longer a hindranceb. remotec. unusual and sometimes improper36. (Commerce) pay one’s way See pay11137. see one’s way see one’s way clear to find it possible and be willing (to do something)38. the way Irish so that: I left early the way I would avoid the traffic. 39. under way having started moving or making progressadv40. informal a. at a considerable distance or extent: way over yonder. b. very far: they’re way up the mountain. 41. informal by far; considerably: way better. 42. slang truly; genuinely: they have a way cool site. [Old English weg; related to Old Frisian wei, Old Norse vegr, Gothic wigs]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014way1 (we?) n. 1. manner, mode, or fashion: to reply in a polite way. 2. characteristic or habitual manner: Her way is to work quietly and never complain. 3. a method, plan, or means for attaining a goal: to find a way to reduce costs. 4. a respect or particular: defective in several ways. 5. a direction or vicinity: There’s a drought out our way. 6. passage or progress on a course: Lead the way. 7. Often, ways. distance: They’ve come a long way. 8. a path or course: the shortest way to town. 9. a road, passage, or channel (usu. used in combination): highway; waterway. 10. Often, ways. a habit or custom: to cling to the ways of the old country. 11. one’s preferred manner of acting or doing: He always gets his own way. 12. condition; state: He’s in a bad way. 13. the range or extent of one’s experience or notice: the best idea that’s come my way. 14. space for passing or advancing: to clear a way through the crowd. 15. a course of life, action, or experience: the way of transgressors. 16. Naut. a. ways, two or more ramps that a hull slides along in being launched. b. movement or passage through the water. 17. Mach. a longitudinal strip, as in a planer, guiding a moving part along a surface. adv. 18. Slang. very; really: That car is way cool! Idioms: 1. by the way, incidentally (used to introduce information that has just come to mind). 2. by way of, a. by the route of; through; via. b. as a method or means of. 3. give way, a. to withdraw or retreat. b. to collapse; break down. 4. give way to, a. to yield to: He gave way to their entreaties. b. to lose control of (one’s temper, emotions, etc.). 5. go all the way, a. to do or finish something completely. b. Informal. to be in complete agreement with someone or something. c. Slang. to engage in sexual intercourse. 6. go out of one’s way, to make an extra or unusual effort, as to do someone a favor. 7. look the other way, to disregard something unpleasant. 8. 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. 9. have one’s way with, to have sexual intercourse with, esp. through cajolery or intimidation. 10. in a way, after a fashion; to some extent. 11. in someone’s or the way, forming a hindrance, impediment, or obstruction: Look out, you’re in my way. 12. lead the way, a. to go along a course in advance of others, as a guide. b. to take the initiative; be first or most prominent: In fashion she has always led the way. 13. make one’s way, a. to go forward along a course; proceed. b. to achieve recognition or success; advance. 14. make way, a. to remove obstructions to passage. b. to relinquish a place or position; stand aside: Make way for the motorcade. 15. no way, Informal. not under any circumstances; no: Apologize? No way! 16. out of the way, a. in a state or condition so as not to obstruct or hinder. b. dealt with; disposed of: One problem is out of the way. c. at a distance from the usual route. d. improper; amiss. e. extraordinary; unusual. 17. see one’s way (clear), to discern no impediment to doing something: Can you see your way clear to giving me $100? 18. under way, a. in motion; traveling: The ship is under way. b. proceeding; in progress: Now that the project is under way, I’m free to talk about it. adv. 19. Slang. very; really: Her new bike is way cool! [before 900; Middle English wei(gh)e, wai, Old English weg, c. Old Saxon, Old High German weg, Old Norse vegr, Gothic wigs; akin to wain, weigh] way?less, adj. syn: See method. way2 (we?) adv. 1. Also, ‘way. away; from this or that place: Go way. 2. to a great degree or at quite a distance; far: way too heavy; way down the road. [1175?1225; Middle English, aph. variant of away] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.way1. ‘way’You use way to refer to the thing or series of things that someone does in order to achieve a particular result. You can talk about a way of doing something or a way to do it. There is no difference in meaning.Be Careful!If you use a possessive with way, you must use of and an -ing form after it.Be Careful!Don’t use a to-infinitive. Don’t say, for example, ‘I have to fit in with her way to do things’.You don’t usually use a noun after ‘way of’ when you are saying how something is done or achieved. For example, you don’t refer to something as a ‘way of transport’. The word you use is means.You can say that something is done in a particular way.You usually say this way or that way without using ‘in’.You can also omit ‘in’ when you are using the or a possessive.When the way is followed by a defining relative clause, this clause can be either a that-clause or a clause beginning with in which. For example, you can say ‘the way she told the story’, ‘the way that she told the story’, or ‘the way in which she told the story’. There is no difference in meaning.