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

While Texas doesn't have a state property tax, local governments collect property taxes for public services like schools, streets, roads, police and firefighters. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

Winchester Avenue closed The road is closed from Raytown Road to I-435 South in Kansas City. —Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2025

Second line parades and gatherings at the historic St. Augustine Church occur on weekends, musicians may gather in Congo Square on a Tuesday, or a high-school band may practice in the road. —Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025

Boise State stayed on the road two years ago for games at Air Force and SDSU. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025

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