What does "midway" mean?
The middle; the midst.
Midway
/mɪdweɪ/ adj, adv, name, noun
adj, adv, name, noun ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The middle; the midst.
- Grammar: midway is listed as adj, adv, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: amidship, amidships, apathetic, average.
- Useful contrasts: completely, edge, end.
- Usage evidence: Midway through our trip we realized that we hadn't brought enough money.
How to use "midway"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "midway" 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 "midway" 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 "midway" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "midway" 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 "midway" is acting as adj, adv, 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 "amidship" 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 "midway", 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 The middle; the midst.
- 2 the place at a fair or carnival where sideshows and similar amusements are located wordnet
- 3 A middle way or manner; a mean or middle course between extremes.
"Prayes, and distroyes the prayer, no midway Twixt these extreames at all."
- 4 The part of a fair or circus where rides, entertainments, and booths are concentrated. US
- 5 The widest aisle in the middle of an industrial complex (such as railroad shops or a coach yard) along which various buildings are aligned. US
Adjective
- 1 Being in the middle of the way or distance; middle.
Adjective
- 1 equally distant from the extremes wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Halfway; equidistant from either end point; in the middle between two points not-comparable
"Originally scheduled to come up mid-way through the alphabetically-ordered agenda by being listed as "Lesbianism," the issue was pushed back to 23 (out of 26 resolutions) with the renaming of it as "Sexual Preference.""
Adverb
- 1 at half the distance; at the middle wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 An atoll in the North Pacific. Known for its World War II battle.
- 2 A village in Belize.
- 3 A village in British Columbia, Canada.
- 4 A suburb of Swadlincote, Derbyshire, England.
- 5 A town in Bullock County, Alabama.
Show 114 more definitions
- 6 A populated place in Maricopa County, Arizona.
- 7 Several place names in Arkansas:; A census-designated place in Baxter County, Arkansas.
- 8 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Clark County, Arkansas.
- 9 Several place names in Arkansas:; A town in Hot Spring County, Arkansas.
- 10 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Howard County, Arkansas.
- 11 Several place names in Arkansas:; A ghost town in Howard County, Arkansas.
- 12 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Jackson County, Arkansas.
- 13 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Arkansas.
- 14 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Lafayette County, Arkansas.
- 15 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Lee County, Arkansas.
- 16 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Logan County, Arkansas.
- 17 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Marion County, Arkansas.
- 18 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Mississippi County, Arkansas.
- 19 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in Nevada County, Arkansas.
- 20 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in St. Francis County, Arkansas.
- 21 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in White County, Arkansas, near the city of Bald Knob.
- 22 Several place names in Arkansas:; An unincorporated community in White County, Arkansas, near the town of Pleasant Plains.
- 23 An unincorporated community in Alameda County, California, United States.
- 24 An oil field in Kern County, California, United States, properly the Midway-Sunset Oil Field.
- 25 A neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States.
- 26 An unincorporated community in El Paso County, Colorado, United States.
- 27 An unincorporated community in Sussex County, Delaware, United States.
- 28 Several place names in Florida:; A small city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States.
- 29 Several place names in Florida:; An unincorporated community in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States.
- 30 Several place names in Florida:; A census-designated place and unincorporated community in Seminole County, Florida, United States.
- 31 A small city in Liberty County, Georgia, United States.
- 32 Several place names in Illinois:; An unincorporated community in Christian County, Illinois, United States.
- 33 Several place names in Illinois:; A ghost town in Fulton County, Illinois, United States.
- 34 Several place names in Illinois:; An unincorporated community in Madison County, Illinois, United States.
- 35 Several place names in Illinois:; An unincorporated community in Massac County, Illinois, United States.
- 36 Several place names in Illinois:; An unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States.
- 37 Several place names in Illinois:; An unincorporated community in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States.
- 38 Several place names in Indiana:; The former name of a town in Clinton County, Indiana, United States; now, Colfax.
- 39 Several place names in Indiana:; An unincorporated community in Concord Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, United States.
- 40 Several place names in Indiana:; An unincorporated community in Laurel Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States.
- 41 Several place names in Indiana:; An unincorporated community in Smyrna Township, Jefferson County, Indiana, United States.
- 42 Several place names in Indiana:; An unincorporated community in Wabash Township, Parke County, Indiana, United States.
- 43 Several place names in Indiana:; An unincorporated community in Grass Township, Spencer County, Indiana, United States.
- 44 Several place names in Iowa:; An unincorporated community in Floyd County, Iowa, United States.
- 45 Several place names in Iowa:; A ghost town in Johnson County, Iowa, United States.
- 46 Several place names in Iowa:; An unincorporated community in Linn County, Iowa, United States.
- 47 Several place names in Iowa:; An unincorporated community in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States.
- 48 An unincorporated community in Crawford County, Kansas, United States.
- 49 Several place names in Kentucky:; A small home rule city in Woodford County, Kentucky, United States.
- 50 Several place names in Kentucky:; An unincorporated community in Caldwell County, Kentucky, United States.
- 51 Several place names in Kentucky:; An unincorporated community in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States.
- 52 Several place names in Kentucky:; An unincorporated community in Crittenden County, Kentucky, United States.
- 53 Several place names in Kentucky:; An unincorporated community in Edmonson County, Kentucky, United States, also known as Lindseyville.
- 54 Several place names in Kentucky:; An unincorporated community in Meade County, Kentucky, United States.
- 55 Several place names in Louisiana:; An unincorporated community in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.
- 56 Several place names in Louisiana:; An unincorporated community and census-designated place in LaSalle Parish, Louisiana, United States.
- 57 Several place names in Louisiana:; An unincorporated community in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States.
- 58 Several place names in Louisiana:; An unincorporated community in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States.
- 59 Several place names in Louisiana:; An unincorporated community in Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States.
- 60 Several place names in Minnesota:; An unincorporated community in Becker County, Minnesota, United States.
- 61 Several place names in Minnesota:; A census-designated place and unincorporated community in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, United States.
- 62 Several place names in Mississippi:; An unincorporated community in Copiah County, Mississippi, United States.
- 63 Several place names in Mississippi:; An unincorporated community in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States.
- 64 Several place names in Mississippi:; An unincorporated community in Leake County, Mississippi, United States.
- 65 Several place names in Mississippi:; An unincorporated community in Scott County, Mississippi, United States.
- 66 Several place names in Mississippi:; A ghost town in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, United States.
- 67 Several place names in Mississippi:; An unincorporated community in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, United States.
- 68 Several place names in Mississippi:; An unincorporated community in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States.
- 69 Several place names in Missouri:; An unincorporated community in Boone County, Missouri, United States.
- 70 Several place names in Missouri:; An unincorporated community in Lewis County, Missouri, United States.
- 71 Several place names in Missouri:; An unincorporated community in Oregon County, Missouri, United States.
- 72 Several place names in Missouri:; A former village in Newton County, Missouri, United States, now a part of Joplin, Missouri.
- 73 An unincorporated community and census-designated place in Chaves County, New Mexico, United States.
- 74 A town in Davidson County, North Carolina.
- 75 A village in Madison County, Ohio, also called Sedalia.
- 76 An unincorporated community in Atoka County and Coal County, Oklahoma.
- 77 Several place names in Oregon:; The former name of an unincorporated community in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, now Four Corners.
- 78 Several place names in Oregon:; An unincorporated rural community of Washington County, Oregon.
- 79 Several place names in Pennsylvania:; An unincorporated census-designated place in Adams County, Pennsylvania.
- 80 Several place names in Pennsylvania:; An unincorporated community in Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
- 81 Several place names in Pennsylvania:; A borough of Washington County, Pennsylvania.
- 82 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States.
- 83 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Cannon County, Tennessee, United States.
- 84 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Clay County, Tennessee, United States.
- 85 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Cocke County, Tennessee, United States.
- 86 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Crockett County, Tennessee, United States.
- 87 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States.
- 88 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in DeKalb County, Tennessee, United States.
- 89 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Dyer County, Tennessee, United States.
- 90 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States.
- 91 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Greene County, Tennessee, United States.
- 92 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States.
- 93 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in the northwest corner of Henry County, Tennessee, United States.
- 94 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in western Henry County, Tennessee, United States.
- 95 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Johnson County, Tennessee, United States.
- 96 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Knox County, Tennessee, United States.
- 97 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Morgan County, Tennessee, United States.
- 98 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Obion County, Tennessee, United States.
- 99 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Pickett County, Tennessee, United States.
- 100 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Roane County, Tennessee, United States.
- 101 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community in Warren County, Tennessee, United States.
- 102 Several place names in Tennessee:; An unincorporated community and former census-designated place in Washington County, Tennessee, United States.
- 103 Several place names in Texas:; A city in Madison County, Texas.
- 104 Several place names in Texas:; An unincorporated community in Smith County, Texas.
- 105 A city in Wasatch County, Utah.
- 106 Several place names in Virginia:; An unincorporated community in Albemarle County, Virginia.
- 107 Several place names in Virginia:; An unincorporated community near the city of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia; not the same as the previous community.
- 108 Several place names in Virginia:; An unincorporated community near the unincorporated community of Buffalo Springs, Halifax County, Virginia.
- 109 Several place names in Virginia:; An unincorporated community near the town of Scottsburg, Halifax County, Virginia.
- 110 Several place names in Virginia:; An unincorporated community in King William County, Virginia.
- 111 Several place names in Virginia:; An unincorporated community in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
- 112 Several place names in Virginia:; An unincorporated community in Washington County, Virginia.
- 113 Several place names in Virginia:; The former name of an unincorporated community in Augusta County and Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States, now Steeles Tavern.
- 114 Several place names in Virginia:; The former name of an unincorporated community in Charlotte County, Virginia, United States, now Wren.
- 115 Several place names in West Virginia:; An unincorporated community in Fayette County, West Virginia.
- 116 Several place names in West Virginia:; An unincorporated community in Mercer County, West Virginia.
- 117 Several place names in West Virginia:; An unincorporated community in Putnam County, West Virginia.
- 118 Several place names in West Virginia:; An unincorporated community in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
- 119 An unincorporated community in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
Antonyms
Example
"Midway through our trip we realized that we hadn't brought enough money."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "midway"?
Common synonyms include: amidship, amidships, apathetic, average, battle, between spaces.
How do you use "midway" in a sentence?
Midway through our trip we realized that we hadn't brought enough money.
How do you pronounce "midway"?
Pronounced /mɪdweɪ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English mydwaye, mydweye, from Old English midweġ (“midway”), equivalent to mid- + way. Cognate with Dutch midweg (“midway”), Middle Low German midwech (“midway”).
Etymology 2
A proprialization from midway. Many of the places with this name got their name from being more or less midway along a journey between two other important places.