Highway: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ
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highway

 

[ หˆhaษชหŒweษช ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

transportation

A main road, especially one connecting major cities

Synonyms

expressway, freeway, motorway.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
highway

Use this term for a major public road connecting cities and towns, often inclusive of smaller roads. It is a general term and can apply to different types of major roads.

  • We took the highway to reach the other town.
  • There was a lot of traffic on the highway today.
freeway

Commonly used in the United States, it describes a major road designed for high-speed traffic with no tolls, no traffic lights, and often no intersections.

  • We drove on the freeway to avoid city traffic.
  • The accident on the freeway caused a major delay.
expressway

A road designed for faster traffic, usually with limited access and multiple lanes. It often has tolls and is used for efficient long-distance travel.

  • The expressway was clear, so we reached our destination quickly.
  • You need to pay a toll to travel on the expressway.
motorway

Used mainly in the UK and some other countries, this term refers to a high-speed road designed for long-distance traffic, similar to a freeway but can include tolls in some regions.

  • We took the motorway to get to London.
  • The motorway was congested with vehicles during rush hour.

Examples of usage

  • We took the highway to get to the next town.
  • The highway was congested with traffic during rush hour.
Context #2 | Noun

music

An easy-to-follow musical passage to connect two sections of a composition

Synonyms

bridge, passage, transition.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
highway

A major public road that connects cities or regions. It's often used for long-distance travel by vehicles and can have multiple lanes going in each direction.

  • We took the highway to get to the beach.
  • The highway was packed with cars during rush hour.
bridge

A structure built over an obstacle like a river, valley, or road to provide a passage for vehicles, pedestrians, or trains.

  • The Golden Gate Bridge is a popular tourist attraction.
  • We had to cross the bridge to reach the other side of the river.
passage

A narrow way or corridor that connects different areas. It can be used in urban and architectural contexts, as well as in literature to describe a part of a text.

  • The secret passage led them to an ancient chamber.
  • Please read the passage from the book and discuss its meaning.
transition

A process or period of changing from one state or condition to another. Often used in the context of life changes, phases of projects, or shifts in roles or environments.

  • The transition from summer to autumn is always beautiful.
  • She is making a transition into a new career.

Examples of usage

  • The guitarist played a beautiful highway between the chorus and the verse.
  • The highway added a smooth transition in the song.

Translations

Translations of the word "highway" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น autoestrada

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฐเคพเคœเคฎเคพเคฐเฅเค— (raajmaargh)

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Autobahn

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ jalan raya

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัˆะพัะต

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ autostrada

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้ซ˜้€Ÿ้“่ทฏ (kลsokudลro)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท autoroute

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ autopista

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท otoyol

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ณ ์†๋„๋กœ (gosokdoro)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุทุฑูŠู‚ ุณุฑูŠุน (tareeq saree)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dรกlnice

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ diaฤพnica

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้ซ˜้€Ÿๅ…ฌ่ทฏ (gฤosรน gลnglรน)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ avtocesta

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hraรฐbraut

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะฒั‚ะพะผะฐะณะธัั‚ั€ะฐะปัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒ•แƒขแƒแƒ›แƒแƒ’แƒ˜แƒกแƒขแƒ แƒแƒšแƒ˜ (avtomagistrali)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ avtomagistral

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ autopista

Etymology

The term 'highway' originated in the 15th century to refer to a public road, especially a main road connecting cities or towns. It comes from the Middle English 'highwey', which combines 'high' and 'way', indicating a well-traveled path or route. Over time, highways have become essential for transportation and commerce, facilitating the movement of people and goods across long distances.

See also: high, highbrow, higher, highest, highland, highly.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,609, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.