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.
Videos shared on social media showed fast-moving floodwaters rushing through New York's Cross Bronx Expressway subway station, requiring passengers to lift up their feet to stay dry. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 16 July 2025 The heavy downpour caused major road closures and transport disruptions, with bus and train services in both New York and New Jersey reporting lengthy delays, while flooding in certain New York City subway stations halted services along the 1,2, and 3 lines in Manhattan. Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 Social media videos showed dramatic scenes of floodwater pouring into Manhattan subway stations and buses left stranded by rising water in towns such as Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025 More than two inches of rain fell on Central Park within an hour on Monday night, a near record for the city, according to reports, in a downpour that flooded subways and caused major transit disruptions. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 15 July 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Subway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subway. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

subway

noun
sub·​way ˈsəb-ˌwā How to pronounce subway (audio)
1
: an underground passage
2
: a usually electric underground railway

More from Merriam-Webster on subway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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