Collocations for way - noun
1. method/style
ADJECTIVE
convenient,
easy,
effective,
efficient,
good,
ideal,
practical,
quick,
simple,
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
sure-fire
a sure-fire way to get him to do whatever I want
wrong
normal
traditional
obvious
sure-fire
a sure-fire way to get him to do whatever I want
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.
clever,
ingenious
I would think of some clever way to get myself out of this situation.
I would think of some clever way to get myself out of this situation.
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
myriad, several, various
Students develop those skills in myriad ways.
myriad, several, various
Students develop those skills in myriad ways.
same,
similar
unique
a unique way of settling disputes
unique
a unique way of settling disputes
new
old
old-fashioned
We did it the old-fashioned way.
old
old-fashioned
We did it the old-fashioned way.
funny,
mysterious,
odd,
strange
God works in mysterious ways.
God works in mysterious ways.
meaningful
They have never contributed in any meaningful way to our civilization.
They have never contributed in any meaningful way to our civilization.
hard
He learned about the dangers of drugs the hard way.
He learned about the dangers of drugs the hard way.
friendly
winning (often figurative)
The team got back to their winning ways with a 2–1 victory.
She isn't known for her winning ways (= for being likeable).
winning (often figurative)
The team got back to their winning ways with a 2–1 victory.
She isn't known for her winning ways (= for being likeable).
creative,
innovative
We are searching for innovative and creative ways to solve the many problems facing us.
We are searching for innovative and creative ways to solve the many problems facing us.
cost-effective
a cost-effective way to boost performance
a cost-effective way to boost performance
VERB + way
have
Fate has a way of changing the best of plans.
Fate has a way of changing the best of plans.
explore,
look at,
seek
to look at ways of improving language teaching
to look at ways of improving language teaching
develop,
devise,
discover,
figure out (esp. AmE),
find,
identify
They believe he'll figure out a way to make it work.
They believe he'll figure out a way to make it work.
create,
invent
Artists began to invent new ways of painting.
Artists began to invent new ways of painting.
change,
mend
Your father is unlikely to change his ways now.
Your father is unlikely to change his ways now.
choose
I chose a different way of collecting data.
I chose a different way of collecting data.
react
We expect computers to react a certain way, in certain situations.
We expect computers to react a certain way, in certain situations.
be set in
Grandma is so set in her ways.
Grandma is so set in her ways.
PHRASES
in a certain way
In a certain way, all of that is true.
In a certain way, all of that is true.
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.
in some ways
It's more interesting, in some ways, to watch what's going on behind the scenes here.
It's more interesting, in some ways, to watch what's going on behind the scenes here.
a … kind of way,
a … 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.
one way or another
One way or another, I'm going to make it.
One way or another, I'm going to make it.
in one way or another
Most people are creative in one way or another.
Most people are creative in one way or another.
that's one way of putting it
‘She has a slightly abrasive manner.’ ‘Well, that's one way of putting it!’
‘She has a slightly abrasive manner.’ ‘Well, that's one way of putting it!’
put another way
Do you remember? Or, put another way, do you know?
Do you remember? Or, put another way, do you know?
the way things are,
the way things are going
She is content with the way things are.
The way things are going, I think that's achievable.
She is content with the way things are.
The way things are going, I think that's achievable.
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
ADJECTIVE
best,
quickest,
right,
shortest
wrong
own, separate (figurative)
He's always gone his own way when it comes to design.
wrong
own, separate (figurative)
He's always gone his own way when it comes to design.
roundabout
This is a roundabout way of saying that nothing has been accomplished.
This is a roundabout way of saying that nothing has been accomplished.
VERB + way
go
I'm going your way, so we can walk together.
When we finished school, we all went our separate ways. (figurative)
I'm going your way, so we can walk together.
When we finished school, we all went our separate ways. (figurative)
part
We parted ways once we went off to college.
We parted ways once we went off to college.
go out of
(figurative)
She went out of her way to help them.
She went out of her way to help them.
keep out of,
stay out of
(both figurative)
Let's keep out of her way while she's in such a bad mood.
Let's keep out of her way while she's in such a bad mood.
bar,
block,
get in,
stand in
A fallen tree blocked the way.
He wanted to go to college and would let nothing stand in his way. (figurative)
A fallen tree blocked the way.
He wanted to go to college and would let nothing stand in his way. (figurative)
clear,
pave,
prepare,
smooth
(all figurative)
The withdrawal of troops should clear the way for a peace settlement.
The withdrawal of troops should clear the way for a peace settlement.
give,
make
(= allow sb/sth to go first or take your place)
Give way to traffic already on the roundabout. (BrE)
The storm gave way to bright sunshine. (figurative)
Make way for the guests!
Tropical forest is felled to make way for grassland.
Give way to traffic already on the roundabout. (BrE)
The storm gave way to bright sunshine. (figurative)
Make way for the guests!
Tropical forest is felled to make way for grassland.
edge,
feel,
grope,
inch,
make,
push,
thread,
weave,
wend,
wind,
work
He edged his way along the wall.
The river wound its way through the valley.
He edged his way along the wall.
The river wound its way through the valley.
claw,
cut,
elbow,
fight,
force,
hack,
pick,
shoulder,
shove
She fought her way up to the top of the company. (figurative)
We picked our way carefully over the jagged rocks.
She fought her way up to the top of the company. (figurative)
We picked our way carefully over the jagged rocks.
bluff,
talk,
trick
(figurative)
She bluffed her way through the exam.
She bluffed her way through the exam.
weasel,
worm
He had somehow wormed his way into her affections.
He had somehow wormed his way into her affections.
snake
The procession snaked its way through the town.
The procession snaked its way through the town.
lose
She lost her way in the fog.
This project seems to have lost its way. (figurative)
She lost her way in the fog.
This project seems to have lost its way. (figurative)
find
He couldn't find a way through the bracken.
We will eventually find a way out of the crisis. (figurative)
He couldn't find a way through the bracken.
We will eventually find a way out of the crisis. (figurative)
manoeuvre/maneuver,
navigate
He had to navigate his way through the city's one-way streets.
He had to navigate his way through the city's one-way streets.
ask (sb)
She asked him the way to the station.
She asked him the way to the station.
tell sb
know
Do you know the way?
know
Do you know the way?
come
(figurative)
Have any interesting articles come your way recently?
Have any interesting articles come your way recently?
PREPOSITION
along the way
We saw a dreadful accident along the way.
We saw a dreadful accident along the way.
in the/your way
There were several rocks in the way.
There were several rocks in the way.
out of the/your way
Could you please get those boxes out of my way?
Could you please get those boxes out of my way?
on the/your way
We stopped for a snack on the way here.
We stopped for a snack on the way here.
out of the/your way
The library is slightly out of my way.
The library is slightly out of my way.
way across
The way across the fields is longer but pleasanter.
The way across the fields is longer but pleasanter.
way from
the quickest way from my Edinburgh to Glasgow
the quickest way from my Edinburgh to Glasgow
way out of
Can you tell me the way out of here?
Can you tell me the way out of here?
way through
The way through the woods is quicker.
The way through the woods is quicker.
way to
the easiest way from my house to yours
the easiest way from my house to 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,
the way forward
On the way back, he invited me to his home for drinks.
On the way back, he invited me to his home for drinks.
the way down,
the way up
the way here, the way over, the way there
the way home
We stopped for a drink on the way home.
the way here, the way over, the way there
the way home
We stopped for a drink on the way home.
the way in,
the way out
the way north, south, etc.
We didn't stop on the way north.
the way north, south, etc.
We didn't stop on the way north.
on your merry way
Then he went off on his merry way.
Then he went off on his merry way.
3. direction/position
ADJECTIVE
both
Look both ways before crossing the road.
Look both ways before crossing the road.
opposite
I went the opposite way.
I went the opposite way.
right
wrong
They've gone the wrong way.
wrong
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.
head
There's a huge storm heading this way.
There's a huge storm heading this 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 around,
the … way round
(esp. BrE)
Try it the other way around.
Try it the other way around.
the … way up
Which way up does this box go?
Which way up does this box go?
way to go!
(used to express approval)
Way to go! I wish I could do that!
Way to go! I wish I could do that!
4. distance in space/time
VERB + way
come,
go
We had to go a long way before we found a place to eat.
The study of genes has come a long way in recent years. (figurative)
We had to go a long way before we found a place to eat.
The study of genes has come a long way in recent years. (figurative)
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.
the whole way
(AmE)
the whole way to Arizona
the whole way to Arizona
the whole way through
I watched the movie the whole way through.
I watched the movie the whole way through.
quite a way,
some way
It's quite a way to walk to the station.
It's quite a way to walk to the station.
a … way ahead,
a … way away,
a … way off
Your birthday is still some way off.
Your birthday is still some way off.