mile

noun

ˈmī(-ə)l 

1

: any of various units of distance: such as

a

: a unit equal to 5280 feet see Weights and Measures Table

b

: nautical mile

2

: a race of a mile

3

: a relatively great distance, degree, or interval

—usually plural

was miles ahead of them in education

—sometimes used adverbially

This one is miles [=much, far] better than that one.

Phrases

a mile a minute

: with great speed

talking a mile a minute

Synonyms

• afar
• country mile
• far cry
• long haul

Examples of mile in a Sentence

We passed mile after mile of beautiful scenery as we drove through the country.

We traveled over miles of dirt road.

The car was traveling at 70 miles per hour.

We were miles from home.

We still have miles to go.

The beach stretched on for miles and miles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Range for the Polestar 2 is 292 miles using the WLTP test cycle, and 275 miles on the more demanding EPA test of the United States. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Last week, gusts were as high as 100 miles per hour. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025

Cars, pick-ups and delivery trucks regularly speed along at nearly 50 miles per hour. —Ryan Lillis, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025

The airstrip, which appears to be 2.4 kilometers [1.5 miles] long, is still under construction. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English mīl, from Latin milia miles, from milia passuum, literally, thousands of paces, from milia, plural of mille thousand

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing mile

• air mile
• country mile
• go the extra mile
• last mile
• mile high club
• nautical mile
• pound mile
• sea mile
• stand/stick out a mile
• statute mile
• three-mile limit

Kids Definition

mile

noun

ˈmī(ə)l 

1

: a unit of measure equal to 5280 feet (about 1609 meters)

called also statute mile

see measure

2

: nautical mile