subway

noun

sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā How to pronounce subway (audio)
: an underground way: such as
a
: a passage under a street (as for pedestrians, power cables, or water or gas mains)
b
: a usually electric underground railway
c
subway intransitive verb

Examples of subway in a Sentence

I took the subway to midtown. No one on the subway seemed to mind how crowded it was. I've been on both the New York subway and the Underground in London.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Neely, a street and subway performer, had experienced homelessness and poor mental health leading up to his death, according to lawyers for his family. Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024 The post-verdict celebration underscores a basic fact about Penny’s future: The 26-year-old who had been accused of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the subway death of Jordan Neely is now a free man. Eric Levenson, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024 Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran at the center of the New York City subway chokehold trial, was found not guilty in the death of Jordan Neely. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024 Penny’s trial revolves around an altercation on the New York City subway in May of 2023 that was recorded and later went viral, leading to Penny being charged with the manslaughter of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old Black homeless man and former street performer, after a six-minute-long chokehold. Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for subway 

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subway was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near subway

Cite this Entry

“Subway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subway. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

subway

noun
sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā How to pronounce subway (audio)
1
: an underground passage
2
: a usually electric underground railway
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!