Collocations for way - noun
1. method/style
ADJ.
convenient, easy, effective, efficient, good, ideal, practical, quick, useful
The best way to open it is with pliers.
The best way to open it is with pliers.
appropriate, proper, right | wrong | normal | traditional | obvious | important
The most important way to stop accidental drownings is by education.
The most important way to stop accidental drownings is by education.
subtle
There is no subtle way to tell someone that you no longer want them.
There is no subtle way to tell someone that you no longer want them.
possible
They''ve explored every possible way of dealing with the problem.
They''ve explored every possible way of dealing with the problem.
alternative, different | similar | new | old | funny, mysterious, odd, strange
God works in mysterious ways.
God works in mysterious ways.
hard
He learned about the dangers of drugs the hard way.
He learned about the dangers of drugs the hard way.
friendly | winning
The team got back to their winning ways with a 2-1 victory.
The team got back to their winning ways with a 2-1 victory.
QUANT.
number
There are a number of ways to overcome this problem.
There are a number of ways to overcome this problem.
VERB + WAY
have
Fate has a way of changing the best of plans.
Fate has a way of changing the best of plans.
get into, get out of
The women had got into the way of going up on the deck every evening.
The women had got into the way of going up on the deck every evening.
explore, look at
to look at ways of improving language teaching
to look at ways of improving language teaching
develop, devise, find | change, mend
Your father is unlikely to change his ways now.
Your father is unlikely to change his ways now.
be set in
Grandma is so set in her ways.
Grandma is so set in her ways.
PREP.
in a/the ~
Can I help you in any way?
Can I help you in any way?
PHRASES
in a big way
He then started spending money in a big way.
He then started spending money in a big way.
in every way
They''re different in every way.
They''re different in every way.
in more ways than one
They''re alike in more ways than one.
They''re alike in more ways than one.
in its/your own way
He was attractive in his own way.
He was attractive in his own way.
a kind/sort of way
He was a handsome man in a sinister sort of way.
He was a handsome man in a sinister sort of way.
(in) one way or another
Most people are creative in one way or another.
Most people are creative in one way or another.
a way of life
the beliefs and practices of the Hindu way of life
the beliefs and practices of the Hindu way of life
ways and means
Newspapers have ways and means of getting hold of secret information.
Newspapers have ways and means of getting hold of secret information.
2. route/road
ADJ.
best, quickest, right, shortest | wrong | own, separate
(figurative) He''s always gone his own way when it comes to design.
(figurative) He''s always gone his own way when it comes to design.
covered
We walked along the covered way to the science building.
We walked along the covered way to the science building.
VERB + WAY
go
I''m going your way, so we can walk together.
I''m going your way, so we can walk together.
PREP.
along the ~
We saw a dreadful accident along the way.
We saw a dreadful accident along the way.
in the/your ~
There were several rocks in the way.
There were several rocks in the way.
out of the/your ~
Could you please get those boxes out of my way?
Could you please get those boxes out of my way?
on the/your ~
We stopped for a snack on the way here.
We stopped for a snack on the way here.
out of the/your ~
The supermarket is a bit out of my way.
The supermarket is a bit out of my way.
~ across
The way across the fields is longer but pleasanter.
The way across the fields is longer but pleasanter.
~ from, ~ out of
Can you tell me the way out ofhere?
Can you tell me the way out ofhere?
~ through
The waythrough the woods is quicker.
The waythrough the woods is quicker.
~ to
the easiest way from my houseto yours
the easiest way from my houseto yours
PHRASES
take the easy way out
He took the easy way out and paid someone to write the article for him.
He took the easy way out and paid someone to write the article for him.
the way back/down/forward/here/home/in/out/over/there/up
We stopped for a drink on the way home.
We stopped for a drink on the way home.
3. direction/position
ADJ.
both
Look both ways before crossing the road.
Look both ways before crossing the road.
right | wrong
They''ve gone the wrong way.
They''ve gone the wrong way.
VERB + WAY
go
Which way did she go?
Which way did she go?
lead, point, show
He showed us the way.
He showed us the way.
walk
Walk this way, please.
Walk this way, please.
look
He looked my way, but didn''t seem to recognize me.
He looked my way, but didn''t seem to recognize me.
PHRASES
the … way round/up
Try it the other way round. | Which way up does this box go?
Try it the other way round. | Which way up does this box go?
4. distance in space/time
ADJ.
long | little, short
VERB + WAY
come, go
We had to go a long way before we found a telephone box. | (figurative) The study of genes has come a long way in recent years.
We had to go a long way before we found a telephone box. | (figurative) The study of genes has come a long way in recent years.
PREP.
~ from, ~ to
It''s quite a way from my house to the shops.
It''s quite a way from my house to the shops.
PHRASES
all the way
This bus doesn''t go all the way so you''ll have to change.
This bus doesn''t go all the way so you''ll have to change.
quite a/some way, a … way ahead/away/off
Your birthday is still some way off.
Your birthday is still some way off.