"make way" meaning in English

See make way in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Interjection

Etymology: Originally nautical. Head templates: {{en-interj}} make way
  1. (nautical) an instruction to get out of the way of someone else, usually because they are carrying something and need a clear pathway. Compare with gangway. Categories (topical): Nautical Related terms: make headway
    Sense id: en-make_way-en-intj-fjSmTGKd Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 52 3 17 27 Topics: nautical, transport

Verb

Forms: makes way [present, singular, third-person], making way [participle, present], made way [participle, past], made way [past]
Etymology: Originally nautical. Head templates: {{en-verb|make<,,made> way}} make way (third-person singular simple present makes way, present participle making way, simple past and past participle made way)
  1. (figuratively) To make progress. Tags: figuratively Related terms: under way
    Sense id: en-make_way-en-verb-p4r9dp5B
  2. (nautical, of a vessel) To progress through the water. Categories (topical): Nautical
    Sense id: en-make_way-en-verb-9ahY2jhE Topics: nautical, transport
  3. (transitive with for) To give place or step aside. Synonyms: give place, give way Translations (to give place or step aside): παραχωρέω (parakhōréō) (Ancient Greek), fare strada (Italian), fare passare (Italian), fare largo (Italian), dēcēdō (Latin), zrobić drogę (english: leave clear space for sb's passage) (Polish), utorować drogę (english: prepare way for sb or sth to happen) (Polish), abrir caminho (Portuguese), abrirse camino (Spanish), abrir paso (Spanish), bana väg (Swedish), אָפּראַמען דעם וועג (opramen dem veg) (Yiddish)
    Sense id: en-make_way-en-verb-H1i-JmZK Disambiguation of 'to give place or step aside': 1 1 97

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for make way meaning in English (5.6kB)

{
  "etymology_text": "Originally nautical.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "makes way",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "making way",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made way",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made way",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "make<,,made> way"
      },
      "expansion": "make way (third-person singular simple present makes way, present participle making way, simple past and past participle made way)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "He was starting to make his way in the world.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make progress."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_way-en-verb-p4r9dp5B",
      "links": [
        [
          "progress",
          "progress"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figuratively) To make progress."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "83 0 17",
          "word": "under way"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To progress through the water."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_way-en-verb-9ahY2jhE",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "progress",
          "progress"
        ],
        [
          "water",
          "water"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, of a vessel) To progress through the water."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of a vessel"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2008 September 15, Philip P. Pan, “In Wake of Georgian War, Russian Media Feel Heat”, in Washington Post, page A14",
          "text": "Many analysts say he remains Russia's paramount leader despite stepping down as president to make way for Medvedev",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4 - 1 Swansea”, in BBC Sport",
          "text": "Chelsea made two changes to the side that lost at Manchester United, with Frank Lampard making way for John Obi Mikel and Nicolas Anelka starting ahead of Didier Drogba.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 December 15, Robin Leleux, “Awards honour the best restoration projects: The Network Rail Community Award: Saltash and Stow”, in RAIL, number 946, page 58",
          "text": "Two entrants shared this award for their work on two quite different stations, but with the same purpose of bringing a redundant station building back into use for the benefit of the community, with the added result of conserving an historic building. Saltash Town Council bought Saltash station building after it had become very decrepit and 'an eyesore' - such that it was nearly pulled down to make way for housing.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To give place or step aside."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_way-en-verb-H1i-JmZK",
      "links": [
        [
          "for",
          "for#English"
        ],
        [
          "give place",
          "give place"
        ],
        [
          "step aside",
          "step aside"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "transitive with for",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive with for) To give place or step aside."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "give place"
        },
        {
          "word": "give way"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "parakhōréō",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "παραχωρέω"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "fare strada"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "fare passare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "fare largo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "dēcēdō"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "pl",
          "english": "leave clear space for sb's passage",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "zrobić drogę"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "pl",
          "english": "prepare way for sb or sth to happen",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "utorować drogę"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "abrir caminho"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "abrirse camino"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "abrir paso"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "bana väg"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 97",
          "code": "yi",
          "lang": "Yiddish",
          "roman": "opramen dem veg",
          "sense": "to give place or step aside",
          "word": "אָפּראַמען דעם וועג"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "make way"
}

{
  "etymology_text": "Originally nautical.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "make way",
      "name": "en-interj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "intj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Nautical",
          "orig": "en:Nautical",
          "parents": [
            "Transport",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "52 3 17 27",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "an instruction to get out of the way of someone else, usually because they are carrying something and need a clear pathway. Compare with gangway."
      ],
      "id": "en-make_way-en-intj-fjSmTGKd",
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "gangway",
          "gangway"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) an instruction to get out of the way of someone else, usually because they are carrying something and need a clear pathway. Compare with gangway."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "make headway"
        }
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "make way"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English interjections",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English verbs"
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Originally nautical.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "makes way",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "making way",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made way",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "made way",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "make<,,made> way"
      },
      "expansion": "make way (third-person singular simple present makes way, present participle making way, simple past and past participle made way)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "under way"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "He was starting to make his way in the world.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To make progress."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "progress",
          "progress"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figuratively) To make progress."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To progress through the water."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "progress",
          "progress"
        ],
        [
          "water",
          "water"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical, of a vessel) To progress through the water."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of a vessel"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2008 September 15, Philip P. Pan, “In Wake of Georgian War, Russian Media Feel Heat”, in Washington Post, page A14",
          "text": "Many analysts say he remains Russia's paramount leader despite stepping down as president to make way for Medvedev",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4 - 1 Swansea”, in BBC Sport",
          "text": "Chelsea made two changes to the side that lost at Manchester United, with Frank Lampard making way for John Obi Mikel and Nicolas Anelka starting ahead of Didier Drogba.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 December 15, Robin Leleux, “Awards honour the best restoration projects: The Network Rail Community Award: Saltash and Stow”, in RAIL, number 946, page 58",
          "text": "Two entrants shared this award for their work on two quite different stations, but with the same purpose of bringing a redundant station building back into use for the benefit of the community, with the added result of conserving an historic building. Saltash Town Council bought Saltash station building after it had become very decrepit and 'an eyesore' - such that it was nearly pulled down to make way for housing.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To give place or step aside."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "for",
          "for#English"
        ],
        [
          "give place",
          "give place"
        ],
        [
          "step aside",
          "step aside"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "transitive with for",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive with for) To give place or step aside."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "give place"
        },
        {
          "word": "give way"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "parakhōréō",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "παραχωρέω"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "fare strada"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "fare passare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "fare largo"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "dēcēdō"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "english": "leave clear space for sb's passage",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "zrobić drogę"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "english": "prepare way for sb or sth to happen",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "utorować drogę"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "abrir caminho"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "abrirse camino"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "abrir paso"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "bana väg"
    },
    {
      "code": "yi",
      "lang": "Yiddish",
      "roman": "opramen dem veg",
      "sense": "to give place or step aside",
      "word": "אָפּראַמען דעם וועג"
    }
  ],
  "word": "make way"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English interjections",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English verbs"
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Originally nautical.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "make way",
      "name": "en-interj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "intj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "make headway"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Nautical"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "an instruction to get out of the way of someone else, usually because they are carrying something and need a clear pathway. Compare with gangway."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "nautical",
          "nautical"
        ],
        [
          "gangway",
          "gangway"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(nautical) an instruction to get out of the way of someone else, usually because they are carrying something and need a clear pathway. Compare with gangway."
      ],
      "topics": [
        "nautical",
        "transport"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "make way"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-01 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

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