road

noun

ˈrōd 

1

: roadstead

—often used in plural

2

a

: an open way for vehicles, persons, and animals

especially : one lying outside of an urban district : highway

b

: roadbed sense 2b

3

: a route or way to an end, conclusion, or circumstance

on the road to success

4

: railway

5

: a series of scheduled visits or appearances (such as games or performances) in several locations or the travel necessary to make these visits

the team is on the road

on tour with the musical's road company

roadless

ˈrōd-ləs 

adjective

Phrases

down the road

: in or into the future

Synonyms

• arterial
• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• carriageway [British]
• drag
• drive
• expressway
• freeway
• high road
• highway
• pass
• pike
• roadway
• route
• row
• street
• thoroughfare
• thruway
• trace
• turnpike
• way

Examples of road in a Sentence

We'll cross the road up ahead at the crosswalk.

He drove off the road.

We parked by the side of the road.

There are lots of cars on the road this morning.

These country roads are beautiful.

a desolate stretch of road

Miles of road lay ahead.

The cabin is accessible by road.

Recent Examples on the Web

These plans outline how a forest will be managed — like logging parameters, species protections, restoration projects and road maintenance. —April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024

Smith also did not dress for road games last month against the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings, and the Utah Hockey Club. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024

Studies of hunter behavior consistently show that most people hunt only a half-mile or so from a road, field or another easy area. —Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024

Israeli protesters block a road in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night amid public anger over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rode, from Old English rād ride, journey; akin to Old English rīdan to ride

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing road

• been/gone down this/that road before
• dirt road
• down the road/path to perdition
• frontage road
• get the/this show on the road
• high road
• hit the road
• main/major road
• middle of the road
• off-road
• one for the road
• on the road
• on the road to recovery
• post road
• relief road
• ring road
• road agent
• road/ground clearance
• road hog
• road map
• road metal
• road racing
• road rage
• road rash
• road roller
• road show
• road sign
• road test
• road to recovery
• road trip
• road warrior
• rocky road
• rule of the road
• secondary road
• service road
• side road
• skid road
• slip road
• the end of the road
• the high road
• the open road
• tobacco road
• took the high road
• trunk road

Kids Definition

road

noun

ˈrōd 

1

: roadstead

—often used in plural

2

a

: an open way for vehicles, persons, and animals

b

: roadbed sense 2

3

: path sense 2b

the road to success

4

: railroad entry 1

5

: a series of visits to several places or the travel necessary to get there

the team plays five games on the road

traveled with the road company of the play