way
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++way1 /weɪ/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 method 方法 [countable]WAY/METHOD a method that you use to do or achieve something 〔做或做成某事的〕方法 There are several different ways we can tackle this problem. 我们可以用几种不同的方法处理这个问题。way of doing something Evening classes are one way of meeting new people. 上夜校是认识新朋友的一个渠道。 There’s no way of knowing if the treatment will work. 没有办法知道这种治疗方法是否有效。way to do something What’s the best way to learn a language? 学一门语言最好的方法是什么？in the same way/in various ways Make the drink with boiling water in the same way as tea. 像泡茶一样用沸水冲泡这种饮料。 Animals communicate in various ways. 动物用各种各样的方式交流。(in) the right/wrong way I think you’re going about this the wrong way. 我觉得你这么做方法不对。ways and means (=methods of doing something, especially ones that are secret or not yet decided) 〔尤指秘密或还未确定的〕办法，手段，方式 There are ways and means of raising the money that we need. 有一些办法可以筹到我们需要的钱。way out/out of/around One way around the problem (=method of dealing with it) is recycling. 解决这个问题的一种途径就是回收利用。 There seems to be no way out of the current economic crisis. 似乎没有办法能摆脱目前的经济危机。way into television/publishing/finance etc (=a method of getting involved in a particular activity or type of work) 进入电视界/出版界/金融界等的途径 companies eager for a way into business in Europe 急于在欧洲打通商路的公司► see thesaurus at method2 manner 方式 [countable]WAY/MANNER the manner or style in which someone does something or in which something happens 〔某人做某事或某事发生的〕方式 Look at the way he’s dressed! 看看他的打扮！in a ... way ‘Hello, ’ he said in a friendly way. “你好。”他友好地说。 Maria got up and took a shower in a leisurely way. 玛丽亚起了床，从从容容地洗了个淋浴。(in) this/that way I find it easier to work in this way (=like this). 对不起，我不知道你原来是这么想的。 Sorry, I didn’t know you felt that way (=had that feeling or opinion). 我觉得这样做容易一些。 The drugs didn’t seem to affect Anna in the same way. 这些药似乎在安娜身上没有起到相同的效果。that’s no way to do something (=used to tell someone that they should not be doing something in a particular manner) 不能用这种方式做某事 That’s no way to speak to your father! 不能这样跟你父亲说话！in more ways than one (=in a number of ways) 在多方面 The changes will benefit the company in more ways than one. 这些改变将使公司在多方面受益。in somebody’s (own) way (=in a personal way that other people may not recognize) 以某人(自己)的方式 I’m sure he does love you, in his own way. 我相信他是爱你的，用他自己的方式。3 direction/how to go somewhere 方向/如何去某处 [countable]TTRWAY/ROUTE4 part of STH that is true 某事正确的部分 [countable] used to say that there is a fact or a feature of something that makes a statement or description true 方面〔用于指出从某方面来看某种陈述或描述是正确的〕5 distance/time 距离/时间 [singular]DISTANCE a distance or a length of time, especially a long one 〔尤指较长的〕距离；时间段6 the space in front of you 前面的空间 [countable usually singular] if someone or something is in the way, they are blocking the space in front of you, and you cannot move forward 〔前面的〕道路7 make way (for something/somebody) 8 out of the way 9 on the/your/its way 10 be/get under way 11 make your way 12 push/grope/inch etc your way somewhere to get somewhere by using force or moving carefully 硬挤向/摸索着走向/小心翼翼地挪向某处13 give way 14 clear/pave/open/prepare etc the way (for something) to make it possible for something to happen or develop later (为某事物)扫清道路/铺平道路/开辟道路/创造条件等15 a/the way forward an action, plan etc that seems a good idea because it is likely to lead to success 有望带来成功的事物16 state/condition 状况 [singular] a particular state or condition 〔特定的〕状况17 fact/event 事实/事件 [singular] used to refer to something that happens 发生的事18 behaviour 行为 [countable] someone’s typical style of behaving, especially when it seems different or unusual 〔某人典型的〕行为方式〔尤指看起来不同或不寻常〕19 development/progress 发展/进步 [singular] used in expressions about developing and improving 进步；变化20 go some way towards doing something also go a long way towards doing somethingHELP to help a little or a lot to make something happen 对于做某事有点帮助[很有帮助]21 choices/possibilities 选择/可能性 [countable] used when talking about two choices someone could make, or two possibilities that could happen 〔两种之中的一种〕选择；可能性22 within two feet/ten years etc either way no more than two feet etc more or less than a particular amount 〔误差〕上下不超过两英尺/十年等23 (in) one way or another/one way or the other WAY/METHODused to say that someone does or will do something somehow, although you are not sure how 不管怎样24 way around/round/up ORDER/SEQUENCEPLACEa particular order or position that something should be in 〔某物应该属于某个〕次序[位置]25 by way of something 26 get in the way of something PREVENTto prevent someone from doing something, or prevent something from happening 阻止某事发生27 go out of your way to do something TRY TO DO OR GET somethingto do something with more effort than is usual or expected 特别努力地做某事28 get/have your (own) way WANTto do what you want to, even though someone else wants something different 随心所欲，为所欲为29 go your own way CHOOSEto do what you want, make your own decisions etc 按自己的意愿行事30 go somebody’s way 31 come somebody’s way if something comes your way, you get or experience it, especially by chance 意外地落在某人头上32 in a big/small way used to talk about the degree to which something happens, or how important it is 大/小规模地33 by a long way by a large amount 大大地，远远地34 talk/buy etc your way into/past etc something/somebody to get where you want or achieve something you want by saying or doing something 通过说[做]〔某事〕达到目的35 work/munch/smoke etc your way through something to deal with, eat, smoke etc a large amount of things 大量地工作/吃/吸烟等36 be on the/your way out to be becoming less popular, important, powerful etc 变得不再受欢迎[不再重要，不再有权势等]37 across/over the way on the opposite side of the street 在街道对面38 have a way of doing something USUALLYused to say that something often or usually happens 经常[总是]以某种形式发生39 get into the way of doing something British English to start to do something regularly 开始习惯于做某事40 not in any way, shape, or formshape, or form not in any way used to emphasize that something is not true 不以任何形式〔强调某事不是真的〕41 split something two/three etc ways (also divide something two/three etc ways)SEPARATE to divide something into two, three etc equal parts 将某物平均分成两份/三份等42 have a way with somebody/something CANto be especially good at dealing with people or things of a particular type 对付某人/做某事很有一套43 the way of the world how things always happen or are done, especially when this is not easy to change 大多数人的行为方式；世道；事情发生的规律44 every which way informaln45. → Way SPOKEN PHRASES → halfway, one-way, right of way, two-way, → that’s the way the cookie crumbles at cookie(3), → cut both ways at cut1(36), → in the family way at family(7), → go the way of all flesh at flesh1(9), → go your separate ways at separate1(4), → know your way around (something) at know1(10), → be laughing all the way to the bank at laugh1(8), → lead the way at lead1(7), → look the other way at look1(9), → out of harm’s way at harm1(6), → parting of the ways at parting1(3), → pay your way at pay1(13), → to put it another way at put(4), → rub somebody up the wrong way at rub1(7), → see which way the wind is blowing at wind1(6), → see your way (clear) to doing something at see1(38), → any way you slice it at slice2, → stand in somebody’s way at stand1(30), → where there’s a will there’s a way at will2(5), → work your way to/through etc something at work1(12)n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a method that you use to do or achieve somethingadjectivesthe right wayThat’s not the right way to deal with the problem.the wrong wayThere is a right way and a wrong way to do it.a good wayParent and toddler groups are a good way to meet other mums.the best wayDoing the job is often regarded as the best way of learning the job.a different wayThere are many different ways of borrowing money.a sure wayImproving your diet is the surest way to lower your risk of heart disease.a quick wayWouldn’t just asking him be the quickest way to find out?an easy wayHere’s an easy way to cut up a mango.verbshave a wayDo you have any way of finding out if that is true?find a wayWe must find a way to help them.think of/devise a wayI have to think of a way to make some money.phrasesways and meansWe are discussing ways and means of bringing jobs to our area. THESAURUSa way of doing something 做某事的方法way something you can do in order to achieve what you want or deal with a problem 〔达到目的或处理问题的〕方法，方式Visiting a country is a great way to learn a language. 去一个国家是学习语言的好办法。a good way to lose weight 减肥妙方method a way of doing something, especially one that a lot of people know about and use 〔尤指许多人知道并使用的〕方法，办法They still use traditional methods of farming. 他们仍采用传统的农耕方式。modern teaching methods 现代教学法nDifferent research methods are used to gather data.approach a general way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about 〔尤指经过仔细考虑的〕方法，途径We need a whole new approach to environmental issues. 应对环境问题我们需要全新的方法。There will be considerable advantages to adopting this approach. 采用这一方法好处很多。technique a way of doing something for which you need a skill that must be learned and practised 〔需通过学习和实践才能获取的〕技巧，手法I went to a class to learn relaxation techniques. 我上了一个学习班学习放松技巧。new surgical techniques 新的外科技术techniques for improving staff performance 提升员工工作表现的技巧strategy a carefully planned way to achieve something difficult or complicated that may take a long time 〔长期的〕行动计划；计谋，策略They met to discuss the company’s business strategy. 他们开会讨论公司的经营策略。the government’s long-term strategy for reducing crime 政府减少犯罪的长期策略how to go to a placeway the road, path, direction etc that you must take in order to get to a place 〔去某处的〕路，道路nAre you sure this is the right way to the sea?nWill you come with me? I don’t know the way.nroute a way from one place to another that people use regularly or that is shown on a mapThere are two routes we could take but this is the quickest one.the overland trade route between Europe and Chinandirections instructions on how to get to a placeLet’s stop and ask someone for directions.If you follow these directions you’ll have no problem finding the house.nshort cut a way of getting somewhere that is shorter than the usual wayLet’s take a short cut across the field.Taxi-drivers know all the short cuts.nhow to get to ... especially spoken used especially when you ask someone to tell you which is the right wayCan you tell me how to get to Grand Central Station?It was getting dark and I wasn’t sure how to get home.n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: adjectivesthe quickest wayShe knew the quickest way to the hospital.the right wayAre you sure this is the right way?the wrong wayHe had ended up going the wrong way down a one-way street.verbsask somebody the wayHe asked me the way to the police station.tell somebody the wayCan you tell me the way to the nearest post office, please?show somebody the wayIf you can show me the way, I’ll take you by car.know the wayDo you know the way to Birkleigh?lose your wayHe lost his way in the fog.find your wayI managed to find my way home.Examples from the Corpus
way• Ottumwa? That's quite a ways from here, isn't it?• Is there any way of controlling the heating in here?• Council officers in Darlington have looked at ways of supporting the campaign.• Losing a job affects different people in different ways.• By phrasing questions in different ways, inconsistencies are exposed without the need for having a detailed knowledge of a particular technique.• I tried every way I could to make the child go to bed, but she refused.• You will find a tiny amount will go a long way.• Now that his marriage has broken down there is no way round this problem.• Women there have abortions again and again because it is the only way they can limit their family size.• The only way to lose weight is to eat less.• I think this is the quickest way into town.• Are you sure we're going the right way? I don't remember seeing that church before.• The government does not believe that this approach is the right way to deal with the problem.• The argument was a terrible way to end a wonderful week.• Jill's office is that way.• The bear went that way - you can see its tracks in the snow.• He walked all the way to Upper Street, near the bus-stops, before he found a free phonebox.• I could tell by the way he looked at me that he was annoyed.• Do you think you can find the way home by yourself?• Are you sure this is the way?• I just love the way she laughs.• On the way home I was thinking about the week.• Is this the way to Grand Central Station?• I'll show you the way we calculate the figures.• It is important to consider which way the house faces, as that determines how much sun it gets.• I don't recognize this part of town - we must have come the wrong way.• I think you're going about this in completely the wrong way.way out/out of/around• She explains why these girls need love, direction, education, a way out of the lures of gang life.• Fortunately, a way out of this apparent paradox exists.• This healthy, realistic fear helps the organization resist the temptation to take the easy way out of a problematic situation.• I could talk my way out of trouble.• M fell all the way out of the first round.• Borrowing money is not the way out of debt.• My point was that they could power their way out of their problems with the latent potential among the workers.• They pushed and squeezed their way out of the jute field.in somebody’s (own) way• Victorine be-came a companion in a way.• However, the vastly differing agendas of the majors and the indies affected questions of artistic control in differing ways.• Of course, everything was done in a way that cost a fortune.• Instead of a gentle immersion in the ways of the Kremlin, Lebed has found himself baptized by fire.• He'd put it in such a way that she couldn't argue.• Emphasize the difficulty of saying anything at all with regard to religion which may not be received by some one in a misleading way.• Even the payment of players was regulated in such a way as to prevent clubs competing in a free market for talent.• A videodisc player can be connected up to a monitor or television set in the same way as a videocassette player.the other way• Or would it be better the other way round?• When you're overtaking, make sure there's nothing coming the other way.• Turn around and face the other way.• But if the means of communication have moved in a more public direction, the images have gone the other way.• This does not happen the other way about.• He was looking the other way, sorting mail.• I waved to her but she didn't see -- she was looking the other way.• They are succeeding by turning big piles into little piles, not the other way around.• Richard, of course, never deferential, never awed, totally fearless, just played the other way flat out!• For decades, that kind of estrange ment worked the other way around.• But sometimes it works the other way round.in no way• The damage is very slight and in no way reduces the value of the painting.• It's too long, too slow and in no way original.• Note that the reviewing activities associated with Personal Interviews are in no way comparable with the procedures of job interviews.• But in no way has Weezer turned into a precision rock machine.• With the values used, the frequency is several kilohertz but is in no way critical for this present purpose.• Jennifer is in no way like the traditional father who just plays with the children.• Gray's comments should in no way be considered official policy.• As interesting as such examples are, of course, they in no way prove that caffeine actually improves mental functioning.• I never suspected them of having spied for long, a feeling which in no way eased my shame.• The electoral framework makes the operation particularly cynical: a pounding of people who in no way deserved it.• This will in no way influence our original decision.a (long) ways• The black boy stepped back a ways.• He was sitting his roan horse on this side of the street but down a ways.• Not close, out a ways, as if giving themselves room to move around in.• We are quite a ways away, probably 500 yards.• The date may seem a ways off, but Chan needs sponsors and participants to sign on now.• We just popped out to get a beer and a burger, down-state a ways.• I even took them from both directions and walked up-stream a ways to see if it looked like this anywhere else.• My husband, John, is out yonder a ways.way ahead• In fact, when it comes to some emotions, men are way ahead of us.• Then again, some major thinkers are way ahead of the curve.• Both men know the only way ahead to avoid a national racial bloodbath is to get together and start talking again.• We invariably ask the custodians of the business to exemplify what they would see as their preferred way ahead.• Here was a historic consensus and a historic clue both of which charted the directions for the way ahead.• We have reached a point where the way ahead seems to have petered out.• The idea was way ahead of its time.somebody was born/made that way• She had been thirty-one years old when he was born, and they had never known why he was born that way.• I suppose I was born that way.change/mend your ways• Are they going to go back and change their ways?• But we think you should give her another chance and see if she can change her ways.• Eventually, of course, the girl changes her ways and they fall in love.• As a result of this report the caretaker was informed that if he did not mend his ways he would be discharged.• Certainly we need to fear a refusal to change our ways.• This simple observation surprised us and made us change our ways of communicating with social workers.• She wrote back in an unusually cheery vein in-tended to demonstrate, I suppose, that she was mending her ways.• I was hoping that perhaps human beings would change their ways after reading the stories of my life with the Houys.well on the way to• The Charity Commission says the new trustees are well on the way to restructuring their management and cutting administrative costs.• He won an Allstar last year and is well on the way to repeating this achievement.• Or if not actually in it, well on the way to it.• She's well on the way to recovery and her brain isn't affected.• The Hodges doctrine, with its limited interpretation of federal power, seemed well on the way to extinction.• Each is, if not yet a separate species, well on the way to an identity of its own.• Mitchell waited until they were well on the way to the processing plant before digging his way out and tumbling clear.• You can also receive an introduction to Web publishing that starts you well on the way to creating your own home page.either way• It is possible to make the argument either way.• His jeering remarks had hidden barbs, and just went to prove how little he cared either way.• The worker should be comfortable either way.• A decision either way on Roe can therefore be perceived as favoring one group or the other...• But this is virtually impossible to establish either way so long as the argument has to depend on reported behaviour.• It seems you can't actually lose either way, doesn't it?• We could simply alternate between the two algorithms and catch the suspect either way.• They were: offences triable only on indictment; offences triable only summarily; and offences triable either way.nWayTTRused in the names of roads 道，路〔用于道路名称〕 Church Way 教堂道way2 ●●○ S3 adverb 1 FARvery far 很远2 LOT/LARGE NUMBER OR AMOUNTby a large amount 大大地3 American English informalVERY very 非常，很Examples from the Corpus
way• You're way too smart to be driving a truck.way ahead/behind/out etc• But drive-ins are on the way out.• One man found twenty dollars on the sidewalk on his way out.• The old man could be on the way out, and anyone on the way out is inevitably a centre for drama.• For a long time, the way ahead barred, Pétain found no opening for preaching his gospel.• At night there were no longer any bonfires to be seen, either on the hill or way out on the surrounding plain.• He worked his way out slowly, without disturbing her.• There has to be some way out, some way to get things back the way they were!way heavier/smarter/bigger etc• Oh, way bigger, said the older man with pride.Origin way1 Old English wegway1 noun →10-19 →20-29 →30-45
→40-45 →n COLLOCATIONS1 →n COLLOCATIONS2
→THESAURUS1 →SPOKEN PHRASES1Wayway2 adverbLDOCE OnlineChinese
→40-45 →n COLLOCATIONS1 →n COLLOCATIONS2
→THESAURUS1 →SPOKEN PHRASES1Wayway2 adverbLDOCE OnlineChinese
method you that to do a Corpus use
way
way1 S1 W1 /weɪ/ 
noun
There are several different ways we can tackle this problem.
way of doing something
Evening classes are one way of meeting new people.
There’s no way of knowing if the treatment will work.
way to do something
What’s the best way to learn a language?
in the same way/in various ways
Make the drink with boiling water in the same way as tea.
Animals communicate in various ways.
(in) the right/wrong way
I think you’re going about this the wrong way.
ways and means (=methods of doing something, especially ones that are secret or not yet decided)
There are ways and means of raising the money that we need.
way out/out of/around
One way around the problem (=method of dealing with it) is recycling.
There seems to be no way out of the current economic crisis.
way into television/publishing/finance etc (=a method of getting involved in a particular activity or type of work)
companies eager for a way into business in Europe
2. MANNER [countable] the manner or style in which someone does something or in which something happens:
Look at the way he’s dressed__
in a ... way
‘Hello,’ he said in a friendly way.
Maria got up and took a shower in a leisurely way.
(in) this/that way
I find it easier to work in this way (=like this).
Sorry, I didn’t know you felt that way (=had that feeling or opinion).
The drugs didn’t seem to affect Anna in the same way.
that’s no way to do something (=used to tell someone that they should not be doing something in a particular manner)
That’s no way to speak to your father__
in more ways than one (=in a number of ways)
The changes will benefit the company in more ways than one.
in sb’s (own) way (=in a personal way that other people may not recognize)
I’m sure he does love you, in his own way.
3. DIRECTION/HOW TO GO SOMEWHERE [countable]
a. a road, path, direction etc that you take in order to get to a particular place
the way to/from/out etc
Which is the quickest way to the sea from here?
There are several ways through the woods.
ask/tell/show somebody the way
Could you tell me the way to the station?
Does anyone know the way from here?
I was afraid of losing my way in the dark.
Can you find your way back to the car park?
the way out (=the door, path etc which you can use to leave a building or area)
Which is the way out?
the way in (=the door, path etc which you can use to enter a building or area)
She looked all around, but she couldn’t seem to find the way in.
on sb’s way (=in the same direction as someone is going)
Want a lift? It’s on my way.
out of sb’s way (=not in the same direction as someone is going)
I live miles out of your way.
b. a particular direction from where you are now:
Which way is north?
Walk this way.
A big Mercedes was coming the other way (=from the opposite direction).
He left the house, looking carefully both ways.
4. PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS TRUE [countable] used to say that there is a fact or a feature of something that makes a statement or description true
in a/one way
In one way you’re right, I suppose.
in some/many ways
Working at home makes sense, in many ways.
Ben is a perfectly normal child in every way.
He never got mad at me. He was great in that way.
in no way (=used to emphasize that something is not true)
This should in no way be seen as a defeat.
5. DISTANCE/TIME [singular] a distance or a length of time, especially a long one:
I was still a long way from home.
some way/quite a way (=quite a long distance)
She had to park some way from the restaurant.
a long way off/away/ahead etc (=far away in distance or in time)
A peace settlement now seems a long way off.
I don’t want to go all that way and not see him.
all the way down/across/through etc (something) (=the full distance or length of something)
Did you really swim all the way across?
I was awake all through the night.
a (long) ways American English:
That’s quite a ways from here, isn’t it?
6. THE SPACE IN FRONT OF YOU [countable usually singular] if someone or something is in the way, they are blocking the space in front of you, and you cannot move forward
be in the way/be in sb’s way (=be blocking a road, someone’s path etc so that they cannot move forward easily)
There was a big truck in the way.
Sorry, am I in your way?
A policeman yelled at the crowds to get out of the way.
The way ahead was blocked.
7. make way (for something/somebody)
a. to move to the side so that there is space for someone or something to pass:
The crowd stepped aside to make way for the procession.
b. to make it possible for something newer or better to be built, organized etc:
Several houses were demolished to make way for a new road.
8. out of the way
a. (also out of sb’s way) if someone or something is out of the way, they are somewhere where they are not likely to cause a problem, need attention, be annoying etc
move/put/push etc something out of the way
Why don’t you tie your hair back, out of the way?
If Uncle Tom had been drinking, I kept out of his way.
When Mac was safely out of the way, Peter came round.
b. if a particular matter, job etc is out of the way, it has been done or dealt with:
I’d rather get the interview out of the way in the morning.
As soon as the contract’s out of the way, we can start.
c. a place that is out of the way is far from any towns
9. on the/your/its way
a. arriving or happening soon:
There’s a letter on its way to you.
More changes are on the way.
b. travelling towards a particular place:
She should be on the way here by now.
on the/your/its way to
The ships were already on their way to the gulf
c. while going from one place to another
on the/your/its way to/out/home etc
I ran out of gas on my way to the airport.
Guess who I bumped into on the way home.
d. (also along the way) while moving from one situation or part of your life to another:
Don’s had to change jobs several times along the way.
e. if someone has a baby on the way, they are pregnant
10. be under way
a. to have started to happen or be done:
Plans are well under way for a new shopping centre.
The tournament got under way on Friday.
b. to have started to move or travel somewhere:
Our train was already under way.
11. make your way
a. to go towards something, especially when this is difficult or takes a long time
make your way to/through/towards etc
The team slowly made their way back to base.
make your own way (home/to something etc) (=go somewhere without the help or company of other people)
Don’t worry. I can make my own way to the beach.
b. to gradually become successful in a particular job, activity, profession etc:
young people who are making their way in industry
12. push/grope/inch etc your way somewhere to get somewhere by using force or moving carefully:
She elbowed her way to the front of the queue.
He drank some water, then groped his way back to the bedroom.
13. give way
a. to be replaced by something else
give way to
Stone has given way to glass and concrete.
My anger gave way to depression.
b. to agree to do what someone else wants, instead of what you want, especially after a lot of discussion or argument:
Despite growing pressure, the Minister of State refused to give way.
give way to
Maria seemed to despise him for giving way to her.
c. to break because of too much weight or pressure:
The floor’s rotten and likely to give way.
d. British English to stop or slow down when you are driving, in order to allow other vehicles to go first
SYN yield American English:
In Britain, give way to cars coming from the right.
14. clear/pave/open/prepare etc the way (for something) to make it possible for something to happen or develop later:
a study that paved the way for further research
The Queen’s death opened the way for him to return.
15. a/the way forward an action, plan etc that seems a good idea because it is likely to lead to success:
A way forward lies in developing more economic links.
a/the way forward for
This treatment may be the way forward for many inherited disorders.
16. STATE/CONDITION [singular] a particular state or condition:
My family was in a bad way financially.
The chicken’s nice and crispy – just the way I like it.
It’s worth thinking how you can improve the way things are.
somebody was born/made that way (=used to say that someone’s character is not likely to change)
He’ll always be mean – he was born that way.
17. FACT/EVENT [singular] used to refer to something that happens:
I hate the way you always give in to him.
18. BEHAVIOUR [countable] someone’s typical style of behaving, especially when it seems different or unusual
be (just) sb’s way
Don’t worry if she’s quiet – that’s just her way.
Esther quickly changed the subject, as was her way.
strange/funny/odd etc ways
We all have our funny little ways.
change/mend your ways (=stop behaving badly) ⇨ see the error of your ways at error(6), ⇨ be set in your ways at set3(6)
19. DEVELOPMENT/PROGRESS [singular] used in expressions about developing and improving:
The team has a long way to go (=needs to develop or improve a lot) before it can match that performance.
Microwave ovens have come a long way (=have developed or improved a lot) since they first appeared in our kitchens.
Jen is now well on the way to recovery (=she has improved and will be well soon).
20. go some way towards doing something alsogo a long way towards doing something to help a little or a lot to make something happen:
ideas that go some way towards reducing environmental problems
21. CHOICES/POSSIBILITIES [countable] used when talking about two choices someone could make, or two possibilities that could happen:
I’m not sure which way he’ll decide.
The election could go either way (=both results are equally possible).
Make your mind up one way or the other.
either way (=used to say that something will be the same, whichever of two things happens)
Either way, it’s going to be expensive.
22. within two feet/ten years etc either way no more than two feet etc more or less than a particular amount:
Your answer must be within a centimetre either way.
23. (in) one way or another/one way or the other used to say that someone does or will do something somehow, although you are not sure how:
One way or the other he always seems to win
We’ll find the money, one way or another.
24. way around/round/up a particular order or position that something should be in:
Which way around does this skirt go?
the other way around/round/up (=in the opposite order or position)
The picture should be the other way up.
Art reflects life, or is it the other way around (=is it ‘life reflects art’)?
the right/wrong way around/round/up
Are the batteries in the wrong way round?
25. by way of something
a. (also in the way of something) as a form or means of something:
I’d like to say something by way of introduction.
little in the way of something (also not much/enough in the way of something) (=not much of something)
The town has little in the way of leisure facilities.
b. if you travel by way of a place, you go through it
SYN via:
We went by way of London.
26. get in the way of something to prevent someone from doing something, or prevent something from happening:
Your social life must not get in the way of your studies.
27. go out of your way to do something to do something with more effort than is usual or expected:
She went out of her way to make me feel welcome.
28. get/have your (own) way to do what you want to, even though someone else wants something different:
Don’t let the children always get their own way.
29. go your own way to do what you want, make your own decisions etc:
At 18, most young people are ready to go their own way.
30. go sb’s way
a. if an event goes your way, it happens in the way you want:
The government are hopeful that the vote will go their way.
everything/nothing goes sb’s way (=used to talk about events in general)
b. literary to continue a journey, or to leave and do what you want to do next:
She said goodbye and went her way.
c. to travel in the same direction as someone:
I can take you – I’m going your way.
31. come sb’s way if something comes your way, you get or experience it, especially by chance:
Luck had come her way at the very last moment.
32. in a big/small way used to talk about the degree to which something happens, or how important it is:
The business was a success, in a small way.
33. by a long way by a large amount:
He was the best in the group by a long way.
34. talk/buy etc your way into/past etc something/somebody to get where you want or achieve something you want by saying or doing something:
Caroline managed to talk her way past the guard.
35. work/munch/smoke etc your way through something to deal with, eat, smoke etc a large amount of things:
He worked his way through the pile of documents.
She had munched her way through a packet of biscuits.
36. be on the/your way out to be becoming less popular, important, powerful etc:
Is the royal family on the way out?
37. across/over the way on the opposite side of the street:
They live across the way from us at number 23.
38. have a way of doing something used to say that something often or usually happens:
Cheer up – these problems have a way of working out.
39. get into the way of doing something British English to start to do something regularly:
He’d got into the way of smoking first thing in the morning.
40. not in any way, shape, or form used to emphasize that something is not true:
I am not responsible for his actions in any way, shape, or form.
41. split something two/three etc ways (also divide something two/three etc ways) to divide something into two, three etc equal parts:
We’ll split the cost between us five ways.
42. have a way with somebody/something to be especially good at dealing with people or things of a particular type:
David seems to have a way with children.
She’s always had a way with words (=been good at using words effectively).
43. the way of the world how things always happen or are done, especially when this is not easy to change:
In those days these policies favoured men. That was the way of the world.
44. every which way informal
a. in all directions:
Bullets were flying every which way.
b. British English every possible method:
I tried every which way to avoid it.
45. Way used in the names of roads:
Church Way
SPOKEN PHRASES
46. by the way used when saying something that is not related to the main subject you were talking about before:
By the way, have you seen my keys anywhere?
47. no way__
a. used to say that you will definitely not do or allow something:
‘Can I borrow your car?’ ‘No way__’
There’s no way I’ll ever get married again.
no way José__ (=used to emphasize that you will not do something)
b. especially American English used to say that you do not believe something or are very surprised by it:
She’s 45? No way__
48. the way I see it alsoto my way of thinking used before telling someone your opinion:
The way I see it, it was a fair trade.
49. 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.
50. that’s (just) the way something/somebody is/that’s (just) the way something goes used to say that a particular situation or person cannot be changed:
Don’t try to fight it. That’s just the way it is.
Sometimes Tim needs to be alone. That’s the way he is.
51. be with somebody all the way to agree with someone completely:
I’m with you all the way on this salary issue, Joe.
52. if I had my way used when telling someone what you think it would be best to do:
If I had my way, we’d leave this place tomorrow.
53. have it your (own) way used to tell someone in an annoyed way that you will agree to what they want
54. (there are) no two ways about it used to say that something is definitely true, especially something unpleasant
55. 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:
It’s a choice between the time and the money – you can’t have it both ways__
56. way to go__ American English used to tell someone that they have done something very well or achieved something special
57. (that’s/it’s) always the way__ British English used to say that things always happen in the way that is least convenient:
The train was late – always the way when you’re in a hurry__
58. down your/London etc way in your area, the area of London etc
59. go all the way (with somebody) to have sex with someone
⇨ halfway, one-way, right of way, two-way, ⇨ that’s the way the cookie crumbles at cookie(3), ⇨ cut both ways at cut1(36), ⇨ in the family way at family(7), ⇨ go the way of all flesh at flesh1(9), ⇨ go your separate ways at separate1(4), ⇨ know your way around (something) at know1(10), ⇨ be laughing all the way to the bank at laugh1(8), ⇨ lead the way at lead1(7), ⇨ look the other way at look1(9), ⇨ out of harm’s way at harm1(6), ⇨ parting of the ways at parting1(3), ⇨ pay your way at pay1(13), ⇨ to put it another way at put(4), ⇨ rub somebody up the wrong way at rub1(7), ⇨ see which way the wind is blowing at wind1(6), ⇨ see your way (clear) to doing something at see1(39), ⇨ any way you slice it at slice2, ⇨ stand in sb’s way at stand1(30), ⇨ where there’s a will there’s a way at will2(5), ⇨ work your way to/through etc something at work1(12)
■ adjectives
▪the right way That’s not the right way to deal with the problem.
▪the wrong way There is a right way and a wrong way to do it.
▪a good way Parent and toddler groups are a good way to meet other mums.
▪the best way Doing the job is often regarded as the best way of learning the job.
▪a different way There are many different ways of borrowing money.
▪a sure way Improving your diet is the surest way to lower your risk of heart disease.
▪a quick way Wouldn’t just asking him be the quickest way to find out?
▪an easy way Here’s an easy way to cut up a mango.
■ verbs
▪have a way Do you have any way of finding out if that is true?
▪find a way We must find a way to help them.
▪think of/devise a way I have to think of a way to make some money.
■ phrases
▪ways and means We are discussing ways and means of bringing jobs to our area.
■ adjectives
▪the quickest way She knew the quickest way to the hospital.
▪the right way Are you sure this is the right way?
▪the wrong way He had ended up going the wrong way down a one-way street.
■ verbs
▪ask somebody the way He asked me the way to the police station.
▪tell somebody the way Can you tell me the way to the nearest post office, please?
▪show somebody the way If you can show me the way, I’ll take you by car.
▪know the way Do you know the way to Birkleigh?
▪lose your way He lost his way in the fog.
▪find your way I managed to find my way home.
■ a way of doing something
▪way something you can do in order to achieve what you want or deal with a problem: Visiting a country is a great way to learn a language. | a good way to lose weight
▪method a way of doing something, especially one that a lot of people know about and use: They still use traditional methods of farming. | modern teaching methods | Different research methods are used to gather data.
▪approach a general way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about: We need a whole new approach to environmental issues. | There will be considerable advantages to adopting this approach.
▪technique a way of doing something for which you need a skill that must be learned and practised: I went to a class to learn relaxation techniques. | new surgical techniques | techniques for improving staff performance
▪strategy a carefully planned way to achieve something difficult or complicated that may take a long time: They met to discuss the company’s business strategy. | the government’s long-term strategy for reducing crime
■ how to go to a place
▪way the road, path, direction etc that you must take in order to get to a place: Are you sure this is the right way to the sea? | Will you come with me? I don’t know the way.
▪route a way from one place to another that people use regularly or that is shown on a map: There are two routes we could take but this is the quickest one. | the overland trade route between Europe and China
▪directions instructions on how to get to a place: Let’s stop and ask someone for directions. | If you follow these directions you’ll have no problem finding the house.
▪short cut a way of getting somewhere that is shorter than the usual way: Let’s take a short cut across the field. | Taxi-drivers know all the short cuts.
▪how to get to ... especially spoken used especially when you ask someone to tell you which is the right way: Can you tell me how to get to Grand Central Station? | It was getting dark and I wasn’t sure how to get home.
way2 S2 adverb1. very far
way ahead/behind/out etc
The other cyclists were way behind.
She lives way out of town.
2. by a large amount
way above/below/past etc
Her IQ is way above average.
way out
Your guess was way out (=completely incorrect), he’s actually thirty-eight.
way back
We first met way back (=a long time ago) in the seventies.
way heavier/smarter/bigger etc (=much heavier etc)
The tickets were way more expensive than I thought.
3. American English informal very:
I think she’s way cool, man.
| I |
noun Language: Old English
Origin: weg
1. METHOD [countable] a method that you use to do or achieve something:Origin: weg
way of doing something
way to do something
in the same way/in various ways
(in) the right/wrong way
ways and means (=methods of doing something, especially ones that are secret or not yet decided)
way out/out of/around
way into television/publishing/finance etc (=a method of getting involved in a particular activity or type of work)
2. MANNER [countable] the manner or style in which someone does something or in which something happens:
in a ... way
(in) this/that way
that’s no way to do something (=used to tell someone that they should not be doing something in a particular manner)
in more ways than one (=in a number of ways)
in sb’s (own) way (=in a personal way that other people may not recognize)
3. DIRECTION/HOW TO GO SOMEWHERE [countable]
a. a road, path, direction etc that you take in order to get to a particular place
the way to/from/out etc
ask/tell/show somebody the way
the way out (=the door, path etc which you can use to leave a building or area)
the way in (=the door, path etc which you can use to enter a building or area)
on sb’s way (=in the same direction as someone is going)
out of sb’s way (=not in the same direction as someone is going)
b. a particular direction from where you are now:
4. PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS TRUE [countable] used to say that there is a fact or a feature of something that makes a statement or description true
in a/one way
in some/many ways
in no way (=used to emphasize that something is not true)
5. DISTANCE/TIME [singular] a distance or a length of time, especially a long one:
some way/quite a way (=quite a long distance)
a long way off/away/ahead etc (=far away in distance or in time)
all the way down/across/through etc (something) (=the full distance or length of something)
a (long) ways American English:
6. THE SPACE IN FRONT OF YOU [countable usually singular] if someone or something is in the way, they are blocking the space in front of you, and you cannot move forward
be in the way/be in sb’s way (=be blocking a road, someone’s path etc so that they cannot move forward easily)
7. make way (for something/somebody)
a. to move to the side so that there is space for someone or something to pass:
b. to make it possible for something newer or better to be built, organized etc:
8. out of the way
a. (also out of sb’s way) if someone or something is out of the way, they are somewhere where they are not likely to cause a problem, need attention, be annoying etc
move/put/push etc something out of the way
b. if a particular matter, job etc is out of the way, it has been done or dealt with:
c. a place that is out of the way is far from any towns
9. on the/your/its way
a. arriving or happening soon:
b. travelling towards a particular place:
on the/your/its way to
c. while going from one place to another
on the/your/its way to/out/home etc
d. (also along the way) while moving from one situation or part of your life to another:
e. if someone has a baby on the way, they are pregnant
10. be under way
a. to have started to happen or be done:
b. to have started to move or travel somewhere:
11. make your way
a. to go towards something, especially when this is difficult or takes a long time
make your way to/through/towards etc
make your own way (home/to something etc) (=go somewhere without the help or company of other people)
b. to gradually become successful in a particular job, activity, profession etc:
12. push/grope/inch etc your way somewhere to get somewhere by using force or moving carefully:
13. give way
a. to be replaced by something else
give way to
b. to agree to do what someone else wants, instead of what you want, especially after a lot of discussion or argument:
give way to
c. to break because of too much weight or pressure:
d. British English to stop or slow down when you are driving, in order to allow other vehicles to go first
SYN yield American English:
14. clear/pave/open/prepare etc the way (for something) to make it possible for something to happen or develop later:
15. a/the way forward an action, plan etc that seems a good idea because it is likely to lead to success:
a/the way forward for
16. STATE/CONDITION [singular] a particular state or condition:
somebody was born/made that way (=used to say that someone’s character is not likely to change)
17. FACT/EVENT [singular] used to refer to something that happens:
18. BEHAVIOUR [countable] someone’s typical style of behaving, especially when it seems different or unusual
be (just) sb’s way
strange/funny/odd etc ways
change/mend your ways (=stop behaving badly) ⇨ see the error of your ways at error(6), ⇨ be set in your ways at set3(6)
19. DEVELOPMENT/PROGRESS [singular] used in expressions about developing and improving:
20. go some way towards doing something alsogo a long way towards doing something to help a little or a lot to make something happen:
21. CHOICES/POSSIBILITIES [countable] used when talking about two choices someone could make, or two possibilities that could happen:
either way (=used to say that something will be the same, whichever of two things happens)
22. within two feet/ten years etc either way no more than two feet etc more or less than a particular amount:
23. (in) one way or another/one way or the other used to say that someone does or will do something somehow, although you are not sure how:
24. way around/round/up a particular order or position that something should be in:
the other way around/round/up (=in the opposite order or position)
the right/wrong way around/round/up
25. by way of something
a. (also in the way of something) as a form or means of something:
little in the way of something (also not much/enough in the way of something) (=not much of something)
b. if you travel by way of a place, you go through it
SYN via:
26. get in the way of something to prevent someone from doing something, or prevent something from happening:
27. go out of your way to do something to do something with more effort than is usual or expected:
28. get/have your (own) way to do what you want to, even though someone else wants something different:
29. go your own way to do what you want, make your own decisions etc:
30. go sb’s way
a. if an event goes your way, it happens in the way you want:
everything/nothing goes sb’s way (=used to talk about events in general)
b. literary to continue a journey, or to leave and do what you want to do next:
c. to travel in the same direction as someone:
31. come sb’s way if something comes your way, you get or experience it, especially by chance:
32. in a big/small way used to talk about the degree to which something happens, or how important it is:
33. by a long way by a large amount:
34. talk/buy etc your way into/past etc something/somebody to get where you want or achieve something you want by saying or doing something:
35. work/munch/smoke etc your way through something to deal with, eat, smoke etc a large amount of things:
36. be on the/your way out to be becoming less popular, important, powerful etc:
37. across/over the way on the opposite side of the street:
38. have a way of doing something used to say that something often or usually happens:
39. get into the way of doing something British English to start to do something regularly:
40. not in any way, shape, or form used to emphasize that something is not true:
41. split something two/three etc ways (also divide something two/three etc ways) to divide something into two, three etc equal parts:
42. have a way with somebody/something to be especially good at dealing with people or things of a particular type:
43. the way of the world how things always happen or are done, especially when this is not easy to change:
44. every which way informal
a. in all directions:
b. British English every possible method:
45. Way used in the names of roads:
SPOKEN PHRASES
46. by the way used when saying something that is not related to the main subject you were talking about before:
47. no way__
a. used to say that you will definitely not do or allow something:
no way José__ (=used to emphasize that you will not do something)
b. especially American English used to say that you do not believe something or are very surprised by it:
48. the way I see it alsoto my way of thinking used before telling someone your opinion:
49. that’s the way used to tell someone that they are doing something correctly or well, especially when you are showing them how:
50. that’s (just) the way something/somebody is/that’s (just) the way something goes used to say that a particular situation or person cannot be changed:
51. be with somebody all the way to agree with someone completely:
52. if I had my way used when telling someone what you think it would be best to do:
53. have it your (own) way used to tell someone in an annoyed way that you will agree to what they want
54. (there are) no two ways about it used to say that something is definitely true, especially something unpleasant
55. 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:
56. way to go__ American English used to tell someone that they have done something very well or achieved something special
57. (that’s/it’s) always the way__ British English used to say that things always happen in the way that is least convenient:
58. down your/London etc way in your area, the area of London etc
59. go all the way (with somebody) to have sex with someone
⇨ halfway, one-way, right of way, two-way, ⇨ that’s the way the cookie crumbles at cookie(3), ⇨ cut both ways at cut1(36), ⇨ in the family way at family(7), ⇨ go the way of all flesh at flesh1(9), ⇨ go your separate ways at separate1(4), ⇨ know your way around (something) at know1(10), ⇨ be laughing all the way to the bank at laugh1(8), ⇨ lead the way at lead1(7), ⇨ look the other way at look1(9), ⇨ out of harm’s way at harm1(6), ⇨ parting of the ways at parting1(3), ⇨ pay your way at pay1(13), ⇨ to put it another way at put(4), ⇨ rub somebody up the wrong way at rub1(7), ⇨ see which way the wind is blowing at wind1(6), ⇨ see your way (clear) to doing something at see1(39), ⇨ any way you slice it at slice2, ⇨ stand in sb’s way at stand1(30), ⇨ where there’s a will there’s a way at will2(5), ⇨ work your way to/through etc something at work1(12)
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| II |
adverb1. very farway ahead/behind/out etc
2. by a large amount
way above/below/past etc
way out
way back
way heavier/smarter/bigger etc (=much heavier etc)
3. American English informal very:
also
also
especially
also
also
especially