What does road mean?
Road is a common English noun for a route or way along which people, animals, and vehicles travel. It can refer to a paved route between towns, a street within a settlement, or, more broadly, the course of a journey. The word also has figurative uses: a company may be described as being “on the road” while traveling for business, while a new qualification can be “the road to success.” In expressions such as “hit the road,” “public road,” and “the road ahead,” road conveys ideas of movement, direction, progress, and destination. Although its basic meaning is straightforward, the word is especially useful because it describes both literal routes and the journeys, transitions, and choices that shape everyday life. Its pronunciation is the same in many major varieties of English, though the vowel is usually transcribed as /roʊd/ in American English and /rəʊd/ in British English.
nounA wide way or route for vehicles, pedestrians, or animals to travel along, especially one connecting towns or cities. By extension, it can mean a route, course of action, or means of progress.
- A route or way for vehicles, pedestrians, or animals to travel along.
- A route, direction, or course of action.
- A condition or period of traveling from place to place.
"The road was closed for repairs, so we took the scenic route through the countryside."
"The new road has made the journey to the airport much easier."
"After several years on the road, the band returned to its hometown."
The plural is formed by adding -s.
"Several roads were blocked by fallen trees."
The word has traveled a long way itself: from Old English rād, it became the general term for a route used by people, carts, and later motor vehicles.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does road come from?
The word comes from Old English rād, meaning a journey or way, and is related to the Old English verb rīdan, “to ride.” In Middle English, rād developed into the modern form road and gradually broadened from the idea of a route traveled to the general sense of a route for traffic. The word is also the source of forms such as roadside, roadway, and roadster.
Related word forms
How road is actually used
The term is general and neutral. In American usage, road often refers to any public route, while street more commonly suggests a route within a town or city. The expressions “hit the road” and “on the road” are widely understood and generally informal.
Easily confused with road
Road is a noun naming a route for travel, while rode is the past tense of ride and is a verb.