way

1 /weI/ noun METHOD

1 (C) a method of doing something: These vegetables can be cooked in several different ways. | At that time, the Pill was the easiest way of ensuring effective contraception. | I've altered the way I teach science. | I'll tell her in my own time and in my own way. | way of doing sth: I've got no way of contacting him at all. | way to do sth: What's the right way to say this in English? | way to go about sth: I think you're going about this the wrong way.

2 one way or another spoken using one of several possible methods, although you do not yet know which one: We'll find the money, one way or another.

3 ways and means special methods for doing something, especially something secret or illegal: There are ways and means of getting drugs in prison.

—see also: Ways and Means Committee

4 way out/around a possible method of solving a problem or difficult situation: I just can't see any way out of this mess. | There's no way around it - we'll have to tell Mom.

—see also: way out, take the easy way out easy 1 (6)

5 way into television/publishing etc a possible method of getting a job in television etc, especially when this is difficult: She thought that working in the box office might be a way into the theatre.

MANNER

6 (C) a manner in which something can happen or be done, especially when there are several: I don't see it that way at all. | Look at the way he's dressed! | Not all birds of prey suffered in this way (by eating insecticide), but many did. | in more ways than one spoken (=in several ways): This will benefit the company in more ways than one.

7 that's no way to do sth spoken used to tell someone that they should not be doing something in a particular manner: That's no way to speak to your father!

ROAD/PATH

8 (C) the road, path etc that you must follow in order to get to a particular place

(+ to): Is this the way to Crouch End? | lose your way: We lost our way in the forest. | know the way: I hope Eric knows the way. DIRECTION

9 (C) a particular direction from where you are now: Which way is north? | Walk this way. | “Where's the lift?” “It's this way.” | show sb/lead the way: Could you just show me the way?

10 on sb's way in the direction that someone is going: I'll give you a lift - it's on my way.

11 out of sb's way not in the direction that someone is going: You can't take me home - it's miles out of your way.

—see also: out­of­the­way (1) DISTANCE

12 (singular) also ways AmE informal a distance, especially a long one: We have a ways to go yet. | a long way: I was still a long way from home. | all this way: It would be too bad to come all this way and not see them. | all the way down/across/through etc (=continuing for the full distance or length of something): Did you really swim all the way across? | way beyond (=much further): This achieves temperatures way beyond what is necessary.

TIME

13 (singular) a length of time, especially a long one: The two events were a long way apart.

BEHAVIOUR

14 (C) a particular manner or style of behaving: He had an annoying way of picking his nails. | We all have our funny little ways. | be (just) sb's way informal (=be the way in which someone usually behaves, especially when this is unusual): Oh, don't worry, that's just her way. | change/mend your ways (=stop behaving badly): Jamieson resolved to change his ways.

—see also: see the error of your ways error (3) ATTITUDE TO A SITUATION

15 (C) one of the possible ways of thinking about a situation, or one of many parts of it: in a way: In a way, it's kind of nice to be working alone. | in one way: Well, in one way you're right, but it's not as simple as that. | in some ways: In some ways, I'd rather he wasn't involved at all. | in no way (=used to say that you should definitely not think about a situation in this way): This should in no way be seen as a defeat.

WHAT YOU WANT

16 get your (own) way to do what you want to, even though someone else wants something different: You shouldn't let the children always get their own way.

17 if I had my way spoken used before telling someone how you think something should be done: Of course, if I had my way, they'd all be shot!

18 have it your own way! spoken used to tell someone in an annoyed way that you agree to what they want

19 go your own way to do what you want to do, make your own decisions etc

20 have your (wicked) way with sb old-fashioned to persuade someone to have sex with you

PREVENT/BLOCK STH

21 be in the way/in sb's way to be in a place or position that prevents someone or something else from moving freely: There was a large truck blocking the way. | Get out of my way!

(+ of): Can you move that box? It's in the way of the door.

22 get in the way of to prevent someone from doing something, or prevent something from happening: You mustn't let your social life get in the way of your studies.

23 not stand in sb's way to not try to stop someone from doing something they want to do: If you want to leave home, I'm not going to stand in your way.

DEVELOPMENT/PROGRESS

24 have come a long way to have developed or changed a lot: Psychiatry has come a long way since the 1920s.

25 have a long way to go to need to develop or change a lot in order to reach a particular standard: Mac's still got a long way to go before he'll make a manager.

SITUATION/CONDITION

26 the way things are spoken used to describe the situation that you are in now: The way things are at the moment, I don't think we're going to be able to go on vacation at all.

27 be in a bad way BrE informal to be very ill, injured, or upset

MAKE WAY

28 make way

a) to move to one side so that someone or something can pass

(+ for): The crowd stepped aside to make way for the riders.

b) to be removed so that something newer or better can take your place

(+ for): Several houses were demolished to make way for the rail link.

29 make your way

a) to move towards something, especially when this takes a long time: We made our way down the hill towards the town.

b) to slowly become successful in a particular job, activity, profession etc: Gradually, Henderson began to make his way in politics.

30 make/find your own way informal to go somewhere without the other people in your group: You'll have to make your own way to the pub.

GIVE WAY

31 to break because of too much weight or pressure: The floor eventually gave way.

32 to have your place taken by something newer, better, or different

(+ to): Steam trains finally gave way to electricity. | After a while my anger gave way to depression.

33 to agree to do what someone else wants to do, instead of what you wanted to do: Alison's too stubborn to give way.

34 BrE to allow vehicles to pass in front of you when you are driving; yield 1 (5) AmE: You must give way to traffic coming from the right.

ON THE WAY

35 on your/the way (to) while travelling from one place to another: Why don't you stop by our place on your way to Boston? | on your way in/out/home etc: Could you mail these letters on your way downtown?

36 be on the/its way to be arriving soon: There's a letter on its way to you. | More changes are on the way.

37 be on your way spoken to be leaving one place in order to go somewhere else

38 be well on the way to to have almost finished changing from one state or situation to another, especially a better one: The new building is well on the way to being finished. | Jen is now well on the way to recovery.

39 on/along the way while developing from one situation or part of your life to another: She had progressed smoothly through school and university, picking up several academic awards on the way.

40 have a baby on the way informal to be pregnant

EITHER WAY

41 either way spoken used to say that something will be the same, whichever of two possible choices you make: Either way, it's going to be expensive.

42 within two feet/ten years/one hour etc either way if a measurement is within two feet, ten years etc either way, it may be two feet etc more or less than the correct amount: Your answer must be within a centimetre either way.

43 could go either way if a situation could go either way, both results are equally possible: The election could go either way.

SPOKEN PHRASES

44 by the way used before saying something that is not connected with the main subject you were talking about before: By the way, have you seen my umbrella anywhere?

45 no way!

a) used to say that you will definitely not do something: “Can I borrow your car?” “No way!” | No way am I going to help him. | no way José! (=used to emphasize that you will not do something)

b) especially AmE used to say that you do not believe something or are very surprised by it: She's 45? No way!

c) used to say that something is not possible or cannot be done: There's no way we're going to get this finished on time.

46 way out/over/across etc AmE a long distance out, over etc: “Where's the meter?” “It's way the hell over there.”

47 in a big way very much: My little brother's into cars in a big way.

48 by a long way by a large amount or difference: He was the best in the group, by a long way.

49 no two ways about it used to say that something is definitely true, especially something unpleasant

50 you can't have it both ways used to say that you cannot have the advantages from both of two different possible decisions or actions: You're either going to have to work harder or settle for lower grades - you can't have it both ways!

51 be with sb all the way to agree with someone completely: I'm with you all the way on this salary issue, Joe.

52 to my way of thinking used before telling someone your opinion: To my way of thinking, it ought to be banned altogether.

53 have sth in the way of to have particular amounts or types of something: They don't have much in the way of leisure facilities.

54 have a way of doing sth used to say that something usually happens in a particular way, especially when this is unpleasant or inconvenient: These things have a way of turning up when you least expect them.

55 get sth out of the way to finish, or deal with something, especially something difficult or unpleasant: I'd rather have the interview in the morning and get it out of the way!

56 every which way

a) BrE every possible method: We tried every which way we could think of, but it couldn't be done.

b) AmE in all directions: When I came back there was popcorn flying every which way!

57 that's the way used to tell someone that they are doing something correctly or well, especially when you are showing them how: Now bring your foot gently off the clutch - that's the way.

58 come sb's way if something comes your way, you get or experience it, especially unexpectedly or by chance: You must make the most of the opportunities that come your way.

59 way to go! AmE used to tell someone that they have done something very well, or achieved something special

60 (that's/it's) always the way! used to say that things always happen in the way that is least convenient: The train was delayed - always the way when you're in a hurry!

61 across/over the way on the opposite side of the street: They live across the way from us at number 23.

62 down your/London etc way in your area, the area of London etc

63 way out! AmE an expression meaning that something is very good or exciting, used especially in the 1970s

64 get into the way of doing sth BrE to start to do something regularly: I never got into the way of carrying my passport around with me.

65 go all the way (with sb) to have sex with someone

OTHER MEANINGS

66 lead the way

a) to walk at the front of a group of people: We set off in single file with Lawrence leading the way.

b) to develop or discover something before other people: a group that is leading the way in cancer research

67 be under way

a) to be happening or being done: Plans are under way for a new link road. | get under way (=start happening): I'll wait till the campaign gets under way properly. | be well under way (=be definitely happening, and too late to stop or change): By the mid-sixties, the process of change was well under way.

b) to be moving forwards: The boat gave a lurch, and we were under way.

68 split sth two/three etc ways also divide sth two/three etc ways to divide something into two, three etc equal parts: We'll split the cost between us five ways.

69 by way of

a) as a form of something, or instead of something: We had sandwiches by way of a meal. | I'd just like to make a few comments by way of introduction.

b) if you travel by way of a place, you go through it: We went by way of London.

70 way around/round a particular order or position that something should be in: Which way round does this skirt go? | right/wrong way around: Make sure you get the slides the right way around.

71 know your way around to be familiar with a place, system, or organization

72 have a way with to have a special ability to do something: David seemed to have a way with children.

73 go out of your way to do sth to do something that you do not have to do and that involves making an effort: She went out of her way to be kind to the newcomer.

74 go some way towards doing sth to help something to happen: These donations will go some way towards repairing the damage.

75 go your separate ways

a) to start doing different things, having different interests etc, from someone you used to be friends with: After leaving college, we went our separate ways.

b) to end a marriage or relationship: John and I have gone our separate ways now.

76 keep out of sb's way to avoid someone

77 in sb's own way used when you want to say that someone thinks, feels, or does something, although other people might think that they do not: He seems harsh, I know, but in his own way he's quite caring.

78 Way used in the names of roads: Abercrombie Way

79 put sb in the way of (doing) sth old-fashioned BrE to give someone the opportunity to do or get something

—see also: in the family way family (6), go the way of all flesh flesh 1 (10), halfway, out of harm's way harm 1 (6), one­way, the parting of the ways parting 1 (3), pave the way for pave (2), pay your way pay 1 (12), right of way, rub sb up the wrong way rub 1 (9), see your way (clear) to see 1 (48), two­way, where there's a will there's a way will 2 (5) 2 adverb

1 by a large amount: way above/below/out etc: Her IQ is way above average. | Your guess was way out, he's actually thirty-eight. | way back (=a long time ago): We first met way back in the 70s.

2 very far: way ahead/behind/back: American companies are way ahead when it comes to biotechnology. | way off/a ways off AmE (=far from where you are): Way off in the distance I could see snowcapped mountains. | way out in/past/beyond (=far from the nearest town or from the point you mention): O'Connell lives way out in the desert.

3 AmE informal very: “Hey, check out my new bike.” “Way cool!”