path

1 of 3

noun

ˈpath How to pronounce path (audio)
ˈpäth
plural paths ˈpat͟hz How to pronounce path (audio)
ˈpaths,
ˈpät͟hz,
ˈpäths How to pronounce path (audio)
1
: a trodden way
a winding path through the woods
2
: a track specially constructed for a particular use
a garden path of flagstones
3
a
: course, route
the path of a meteor
b
: a way of life, conduct, or thought
decided on a career path in medicine
4
a
: the continuous series of positions or configurations that can be assumed in any motion or process of change by a moving or varying system
b
: a sequence of arcs in a network that can be traced continuously without retracing any arc
5
: pathway sense 2
the optic path from the retina to the cerebral cortex

path

2 of 3

abbreviation

variants or pathol

-path

3 of 3

noun combining form

1
: practitioner of a (specified) system of medicine that emphasizes one aspect of disease or its treatment
naturopath
2
a
: one suffering from a disorder (of such a part or system)
psychopath
b
: one perceiving
telepath

Examples of path in a Sentence

Noun We followed a winding path through the woods. The path led down the hill. The car skidded into the path of an oncoming truck. The fire destroyed everything in its path. The cars moved aside to clear a path for the ambulance. He tried to leave but one of the guards blocked his path. They are heading down a dangerous path that could lead to war.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For the more novel products approaching commercialization the path to approval varies greatly from region to region and even from country to country in the EU. Steven Savage, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 While kids aren’t attending to become professional officials, there’s always the chance that some student will choose that path. C. R. Walker, Chicago Tribune, 25 Oct. 2024 But in reality, both campaigns are bracing for a coin flip of a race, with each side seeing both paths to victory and potential pitfalls, according to conversations with six operatives from both parties. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024 As the deal was approaching its end, McKenna started plotting a new path forward. Thomas Smith, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for path 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'path.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English pæth; akin to Old High German pfad path

Noun combining form

borrowed from Greek -pathēs "experiencing, undergoing or suffering (as designated by the initial element)," adjectival derivative from páthos "experience, misfortune, emotion" — more at pathos

Note: The agentive meaning of sense 1 is based on loans from German or French (as German Homöopath, French homéopathe homeopath) that appear to be back-formations from abstract nouns ending in -ie (as German Homöopathie, French homéopathie homeopathy—cf. -pathy).

First Known Use

Noun

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of path was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near path

Cite this Entry

“Path.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/path. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

path

noun
ˈpath,
ˈpȧth
plural paths
ˈpat͟hz,
ˈpaths,
ˈpȧt͟hz,
ˈpȧths
1
a
: a track made by foot travel
b
: a track constructed for a particular use (as horseback riding)
2
a
: the way along which something moves : course
b
: a way of life, conduct, or thought
pathless
-ləs
adjective

Medical Definition

path

1 of 2 noun
plural paths ˈpat͟hz How to pronounce path (audio) ˈpaths How to pronounce path (audio)
ˈpȧt͟hz,
ˈpȧths
1
: the way or route traversed by something
the sweat glands are the chief paths by which water reaches the surface of the skinMorris Fishbein
2

path

2 of 2 abbreviation

More from Merriam-Webster on path

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