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.
That Second Avenue subway extension is feeling pretty sweet now, too. Clio Chang, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2025 Those include modernizing subway signals, some of which were installed during the Depression era; making stations more accessible for riders with disabilities; and extending the Second Avenue subway line to East Harlem. Stefanos Chen, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 The interior has white ceilings and airy white cabinets and subway tile in the kitchen. Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 22 Feb. 2025 The scale of New York City's emergency response needs is immense, with 40,000 first responders addressing challenges as diverse as building collapses, subway emergencies, and potential terrorist threats. Maribel Lopez, Forbes, 21 Feb. 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 6 Mar. 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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