1 -ways | Definition of -ways
\ ˈwāz How to pronounce ways (audio) \

Definition of ways

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: way sense 6 a long ways from home

Definition of -ways (Entry 2 of 2)

: in (such) a way, course, direction, or manner sideways

Examples of ways in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun, plural in form but singular in construction

Baseball has a ways to go while wrestling with the implications of new forms of technologies being introduced into the sport. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, "Why Red Sox pitchers are looking inside their caps," 13 Aug. 2019 Sports and psychology as an overlap still has a ways to go. Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "How Djokovic's Mental Training Helped Him at Wimbledon | Beyond the Baseline Podcast," 25 July 2019 Regardless of how vulnerable Nunes may or may not be, Arballo has a ways to go. John Wildermuth, SFChronicle.com, "California’s Democratic seat-flippers are raking in campaign cash," 18 July 2019 Some of the other options on this list have made huge strides toward VR elegance, but Valve has a ways to go in that department. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Guidemaster: Is Valve Index the best virtual reality system to buy in 2019?," 28 June 2019 Scientists still have a ways to go in terms of predicting and enhancing recovery from neurological injuries, Rosenow added. Michelle Lou, CNN, "Scientists repurposed the EEG to detect brain activity in comatose patients," 27 June 2019 World View still has a ways to go before the Stratollite’s promised capabilities are fully realized. Loren Grush, The Verge, "World View keeps one of its high-altitude balloons afloat for a full 16 days," 5 June 2019 And while society has a ways to go in fully coming to terms with this sobering truth, it's become enough of an acute issue that one of the driving forces behind it all saw the need for addressing it head-on. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "The iPhone’s New "Screen Time" Regulating Tool is Here to Save You from Yourself," 13 Oct. 2018 Broadcasters still have a ways to go before 4K and HDR live sports are standard in households. Tom Warren, The Verge, "You can now watch the World Cup in 4K HDR and it’s gorgeous," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ways.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ways

Noun, plural in form but singular in construction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ways

Noun, plural in form but singular in construction

Middle English wayes, from genitive of way entry 1

Adverb suffix

Middle English, from ways, genitive of way

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More Definitions for ways

ways

noun

English Language Learners Definition of ways

US, informal : a distance
\ ˌwāz\

Kids Definition of -ways

: in such a way, direction, or manner sideways

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More from Merriam-Webster on ways

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with ways

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ways

Nglish: Translation of ways for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ways for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ways