autobahn

noun

au·to·bahn ˈȯ-tō-ˌbän

ˈau̇-

Synonyms of autobahn next

: a German, Swiss, or Austrian expressway

Examples of autobahn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

The story goes that McQueen had been driving his Porsche 911S on the German autobahn, running at around 130 miles an hour, when a 300 SEL 6.3 blew past with ease. —

Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Big, imperious four-doors that can effortlessly roll along the autobahn at triple-digit speeds in silence and comfort, ones that announce their owner as a person of not just means, but purpose. —

Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2024 That’s a two-hour commute that makes the 405 from L.A. to San Diego seem like the German autobahn. —

Jon Becker, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024 Volkswagen shut down assembly lines churning out its popular Golf hatchbacks and converted the factory, which has its own exit on the autobahn, to make six electric models. —

Jack Ewing, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for autobahn

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Autobahn, from Auto auto entry 1 + Bahn "path, way, lane," going back to Middle High German ban, bane "cleared path, track," akin to Middle Low German & Middle Dutch bāne in same sense, of uncertain origin

Note: The Germanic etymon represented by Bahn is perhaps akin to Old High German bano "killer, murderer," Old English bana, etc. (see bane entry 1), if both descend from a verb meaning "strike, beat down." See Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Althochdeutschen, Band 1, pp. 460-61.

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of autobahn was in 1934

See more words from the same year