What does "alley" mean?
A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots of buildings.
Alley
/ˈæl.i/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots of buildings.
- Grammar: alley is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: alleyway, laneway, access, aisle.
- Useful contrasts: german quadrat, avenue, avenues.
- Usage evidence: Thankfully, there was an Armani store just outside the alley where Dima had slept.
How to use "alley"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "alley" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "alley" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "alley" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "alley" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "alley" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "alleyway" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "alley", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots of buildings.
"The parking lot to my friend's apartment building is in the alley."
- 2 A marble (small ball used in games).
- 3 a narrow street with walls on both sides wordnet
- 4 The area between the outfielders.
"He hit one deep into the alley."
- 5 a lane down which a bowling ball is rolled toward pins wordnet
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 An establishment where bowling is played.
- 7 An elongated wooden strip of floor along which a bowling ball is rolled.
- 8 The extra area between the sidelines or tramlines on a tennis court that is used for doubles matches.
- 9 A walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes.
"I know each lane and every alley green."
- 10 A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
- 11 Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
- 12 The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.
- 13 A group of clowns; the collective noun for clowns. informal, rare
"[…] alley of clowns had sprung like a fungus growth from the dung heap of the First World War."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 A female given name.
Example
"Thankfully, there was an Armani store just outside the alley where Dima had slept."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "alley"?
Common synonyms include: alleyway, laneway, access, aisle, alleyway, alleyways.
How do you use "alley" in a sentence?
Thankfully, there was an Armani store just outside the alley where Dima had slept.
How do you pronounce "alley"?
Pronounced /ˈæl.i/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English aleye, from Anglo-Norman aleie, feminine of alé, past participle of aler (“to go”) (French aller). Doublet of allée.
Etymology 2
Diminutive of alabaster, from which they were once made.