lane

1 of 2

noun

ˈlān 

1

: a narrow passageway between fences or hedges

2

: a relatively narrow way or track: such as

a

: an ocean route used by or prescribed for ships

b

: a strip of roadway for a single line of vehicles

c

: air lane

d

: any of several parallel courses on a track or swimming pool in which a competitor must stay during a race

e

: an unmarked lengthwise division of a playing area which defines the playing zone of a particular player

f

: a narrow hardwood surface having pins at one end and a gutter along each side that is used in bowling

g

: free throw lane

lane

2 of 2

Scottish variant of lone

Examples of lane in a Sentence

Noun

The truck's driver kept changing lanes.

She moved to the outside lane.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Officers responded to the eastbound lanes of I-30 near E. Loop 820 around 5:50 a.m. after getting a call about an accident between two 18-wheelers, according to the 911 call sheet. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2025

Right lane closed in Merriam The right lane is closed between I-35 and US-169/Metcalf Avenue in Merriam. —Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 28 Jan. 2025

Both the southbound and northbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed for several hours Monday morning. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2025

He was pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital at 2:15 a.m. Skinner was driving in a BMW sedan eastbound in the far right lane of I-84 just before Exit 44 at the time of the crash. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English lanu; akin to Middle Dutch lane lane

First Known Use

Noun

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

Phrases Containing lane

• air lane
• breakdown lane
• express lane
• fast lane
• free throw lane
• memory lane
• passing lane
• sea-lane
• slow lane

Kids Definition

lane

noun

ˈlān

1

: a narrow way or road usually between fences, hedges, or buildings

2

: a somewhat narrow way or track: as

a

: an ocean route for ships

also : air lane

b

: a strip of roadway for a single line of vehicles

c

: a bowling alley

Biographical Definition

Lane

biographical name

ˈlān 

Edward William 1801–1876 English orientalist