path

1 of 3

noun

ˈpath 

ˈpäth

plural paths ˈpat͟hz 

ˈpaths,

ˈpät͟hz,

ˈpäths 

1

: a trodden way

a winding path through the woods

2

: a track specially constructed for a particular use

a garden path of flagstones

3

a

: course, route

the path of a meteor

b

: a way of life, conduct, or thought

decided on a career path in medicine

4

a

: the continuous series of positions or configurations that can be assumed in any motion or process of change by a moving or varying system

b

: a sequence of arcs in a network that can be traced continuously without retracing any arc

5

: pathway sense 2

the optic path from the retina to the cerebral cortex

path

2 of 3

abbreviation

variants or pathol

pathological; pathology

-path

3 of 3

noun combining form

1

: practitioner of a (specified) system of medicine that emphasizes one aspect of disease or its treatment

naturopath

2

a

: one suffering from a disorder (of such a part or system)

psychopath

b

: one perceiving

telepath

Synonyms

Noun

• course
• line
• pathway
• route
• routeway [chiefly British]
• steps
• track
• way

Examples of path in a Sentence

Noun

We followed a winding path through the woods.

The path led down the hill.

The car skidded into the path of an oncoming truck.

The fire destroyed everything in its path.

The cars moved aside to clear a path for the ambulance.

He tried to leave but one of the guards blocked his path.

They are heading down a dangerous path that could lead to war.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Su said companies’ willingness to follow these principles—and to keep a mindful eye on AI’s broader impact—could determine the path forward for AI and other emerging technologies. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024

Spaghetti models are named after their spaghetti-like appearance and are used to illustrate the potential path of a storm. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Now, set yourself on a path to re-create those factors in the current situation. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Emily Witt 3 hours ago Kamala Harris Rallies an Energized Crowd at Her Final Campaign Stop Photograph by Kent Nishimura /Getty Kamala Harris spent the last day of the 2024 election campaign in Pennsylvania, a swing state crucial to her path to the White House. —The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English pæth; akin to Old High German pfad path

Noun combining form

borrowed from Greek -pathēs "experiencing, undergoing or suffering (as designated by the initial element)," adjectival derivative from páthos "experience, misfortune, emotion" — more at pathos

Note: The agentive meaning of sense 1 is based on loans from German or French (as German Homöopath, French homéopathe homeopath) that appear to be back-formations from abstract nouns ending in -ie (as German Homöopathie, French homéopathie homeopathy—cf. -pathy).

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing path

• base path
• beat a path
• beat a path to your door
• bridle path
• desire path
• down the road/path to perdition
• flight path
• glide path
• lead one down the garden path
• lead one up the garden path
• lead (someone) down/up the garden path
• mean free path
• off the beaten path
• primrose path
• smooth a path
• take/follow the path/line of least resistance

Kids Definition

path

noun

ˈpath,

ˈpȧth

plural paths

ˈpat͟hz,

ˈpaths,

ˈpȧt͟hz,

ˈpȧths

1

a

: a track made by foot travel

b

: a track constructed for a particular use (as horseback riding)

2

a

: the way along which something moves : course

b

: a way of life, conduct, or thought

pathless

-ləs

adjective

Medical Definition

path

1 of 2 noun

ˈpath, ˈpȧth 

plural paths ˈpat͟hz  ˈpaths 

ˈpȧt͟hz,

ˈpȧths

1

: the way or route traversed by something

the sweat glands are the chief paths by which water reaches the surface of the skin

—Morris Fishbein

2

: pathway sense 1

path

2 of 2 abbreviation

pathological; pathology