road

noun

1
: roadstead
often used in plural
2
a
: an open way for vehicles, persons, and animals
especially : one lying outside of an urban district : highway
3
: a route or way to an end, conclusion, or circumstance
on the road to success
4
5
: a series of scheduled visits or appearances (such as games or performances) in several locations or the travel necessary to make these visits
the team is on the road
on tour with the musical's road company
roadless adjective
Phrases
down the road
: in or into the future

Examples of road in a Sentence

We'll cross the road up ahead at the crosswalk. He drove off the road. We parked by the side of the road. There are lots of cars on the road this morning. These country roads are beautiful. a desolate stretch of road Miles of road lay ahead. The cabin is accessible by road.
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.
Forecasters are urging travelers to check state road condition websites before setting out, as snow and ice are likely on high-elevation roads and mountain passes. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025 His motorsports journey took a slightly different path compared to other F1 prospects, dreaming of being a NASCAR driver before discovering his strength lay in road courses. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 As Musk continues to repeat his prediction that a Tesla FSD system with no need for human oversight is right around the corner, the company faces multiple lawsuits over deaths from road accidents involving a Tesla vehicle that had assistance features activated. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025 The road runs through the geographic heart of Vermont, from Massachusetts to the Canadian border, and cuts through the iconic Green Mountain range. Megan Margulies, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for road

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rode, from Old English rād ride, journey; akin to Old English rīdan to ride

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of road was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Road.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/road. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

road

noun
1
: roadstead
often used in plural
2
a
: an open way for vehicles, persons, and animals
3
: path sense 2b
the road to success
4
5
: a series of visits to several places or the travel necessary to get there
the team plays five games on the road
traveled with the road company of the play

More from Merriam-Webster on road

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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