What does "metro" mean?
A rapid transit rail transport system, or a train in such systems, generally underground and serving a metropolitan area.
Metro
/ˈmɛtɹəʊ/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A rapid transit rail transport system, or a train in such systems, generally underground and serving a metropolitan area.
- Grammar: metro is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: subway, underground, amtrak, baggage train.
- Useful contrasts: book, bus, countryside.
- Usage evidence: The metro honked at me this morning.
How to use "metro"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "metro" 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 "metro" 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 "metro" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "metro" 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 "metro" is acting as adj, name, noun 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 "subway" 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 "metro", 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 rapid transit rail transport system, or a train in such systems, generally underground and serving a metropolitan area. general
"He is going to the stadium by metro."
- 2 A metropolitan area.
"In an age of persistently high inequality, work in high-cost metros catering to the whims of the wealthy—grooming them, stretching them, feeding them, driving them—has become one of the fastest-growing industries. […] Relationships between the classes, once mediated through the household, are now managed through an app that serves a large metro area."
- 3 an electric railway operating below the surface of the ground (usually in a city) wordnet
- 4 An urban rapid transit rail transport system, normally with lighter track and light trains (i.e. an S-Bahn or similar), or a train in such systems. uncommon
"Informs how long the passenger has to wait for the next metro"
Adjective
- 1 metropolitan
Proper Noun
- 1 A city in Lampung, Indonesia.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The metro honked at me this morning."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "metro"?
Common synonyms include: subway, underground, amtrak, baggage train, branch, cable railroad.
How do you use "metro" in a sentence?
The metro honked at me this morning.
How do you pronounce "metro"?
Pronounced /ˈmɛtɹəʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French métro, clipping of métropolitain (from Ancient Greek μήτηρ (mḗtēr, “mother”) + πόλις (pólis, “city”)), as in the Chemin de fer métropolitain, an early name for the Paris Métro. This name was a direct translation of "Metropolitan Railway", which was the original name of the earliest part of the London Underground, constructed in 1863.
Etymology 2
Clipping of metropolitan.
Etymology 3
From Indonesian Metro.