What does "parkway" mean?
A path, carriage-way, or road through a park or a landscaped right of way.
Parkway
/ˈpɑɹkˌweɪ/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A path, carriage-way, or road through a park or a landscaped right of way.
- Grammar: parkway is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: alley, alleyway, arterial, arterial highway.
- Usage evidence: The parkways cut through some of the most scenic parts of the country. One of the longest – and most popular – is the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many people call it “America’s favorite drive.”
How to use "parkway"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "parkway" 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 "parkway" 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 "parkway" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "parkway" 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 "parkway" is acting as 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 "alley" 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 "parkway", 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 path, carriage-way, or road through a park or a landscaped right of way. dated
"This street, transferred to the West Side park system in 1879, was extended and changed into a parkway passing through that pretty and well-improved urban space, Union Park"
- 2 A railway station built on the edge of a town, typically with a large car park to function as a park and ride interchange. Australia, British
- 3 a wide scenic road planted with trees wordnet
- 4 A scenic freeway. US
- 5 A divided highway with a landscaped median. US
"As they cruised, she remembered the old saw: Why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway?"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A tree lawn.
Proper Noun
- 1 A place name:; A census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States.
- 2 A place name:; A neighbourhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, named after two roads with Parkway in their name.
- 3 A place name:; A village in Franklin County, Missouri, United States.
- 4 A place name:; A suburb of Wainuiomata, Wellington region, New Zealand, presumably named after a road in the area.
- 5 A place name:; A hamlet in Ledbury parish, Herefordshire, England (OS grid ref SO7135).
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A place name:; A northern suburb (housing estate) in Haverhill, West Suffolk district, Suffolk, England (OS grid ref TL6646).
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The parkways cut through some of the most scenic parts of the country. One of the longest – and most popular – is the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many people call it “America’s favorite drive.”"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "parkway"?
Common synonyms include: alley, alleyway, arterial, arterial highway, arterial street, artery.
How do you use "parkway" in a sentence?
The parkways cut through some of the most scenic parts of the country. One of the longest – and most popular – is the Blue Ridge Parkway. Many people call it “America’s favorite drive.”
How do you pronounce "parkway"?
Pronounced /ˈpɑɹkˌweɪ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From park + way.
Etymology 2
By surface analysis, a blend of car park + railway. However, it is possible that the term originally derived from Bristol Parkway railway station built in the early 1970s, which appears to have been named after the M32 motorway, also called Parkway because it runs through Stoke Park.