highway
gb/hˈaɪwˌeɪ/ us/hˈaɪwˌeɪ/
A2
English
~ 3300
autópálya, főút, biztos út, egyenes út
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to drive on [a/the] highway
We took the highway to get to the city faster.
Az autópályán mentünk, hogy gyorsabban beérjünk a városba.
The accident blocked both lanes of the highway.
A baleset elzárta az autópálya mindkét sávját.
Highway patrol stopped the speeding driver.
They are building a new highway between the two towns.
The highway was closed due to heavy snow.
Learner examples
The car is on the highway.
Az autó az autópályán van.
We drive on the highway to go to the city.
A városba az autópályán megyünk.
The highway is very busy today.
The police are on the highway.
They build a new highway near my house.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'highway' with 'street' or 'road'; 'highway' usually refers to a major route between cities, not small local roads.
Meaning
Main road for fast travel
Collocations
highway traffic
|highway patrol
|highway exit
|build a highway
|highway construction
Synonyms
freeway (Used mainly in American English for a controlled-access highway with no intersections.)
|
expressway (Similar in meaning but often used for urban high-speed roads.)
Antonyms
local road (A smaller road serving local traffic rather than long-distance travel.)
Themes
transportation
|infrastructure
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A big road for cars that goes between towns or cities.
A major public road designed for fast, long-distance vehicle travel, often connecting cities or regions.
NOUN
B2
2
biztos út
B1
egyenes út
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is the highway to [goal/result]
Some say education is the highway to success.
Egyesek szerint az oktatás biztos út a sikerhez.
Ignoring safety rules is the highway to disaster.
A biztonsági szabályok figyelmen kívül hagyása egyenes út a katasztrófához.
For him, hard work was the highway to his career goals.
Learner examples
School is the highway to success.
Az iskola biztos út a sikerhez.
Not sleeping is the highway to bad health.
Az alváshiány egyenes út a rossz egészségi állapothoz.
Saving money is the highway to buying a house.
Common mistake:
Learners may take this figurative use literally, thinking it refers to an actual road.
Meaning
Direct route to success or result
Collocations
highway to success
|highway to failure
Synonyms
fast track (Informal term for a quick and direct route to achievement.)
Antonyms
long way around (An indirect and slower method of achieving something.)
Themes
metaphor
|success
|business
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A certain and easy way to get what you want.
A figurative term for a sure or direct way of achieving a particular goal or result.
Grammar
Dictionary form
highway
IPA
GB/hˈaɪwˌeɪ/
US/hˈaɪwˌeɪ/
Syllables & stress
high - way (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (high)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: highway
- Plural: highways
Word family
Forms
highways
noun
Related words
Expressions
highway robbery
1/hˈaɪwˌeɪ ɹˈɑbɚi/
idiom
informal
Extremely high price
Something that costs much more money than it should.
Examples
- $10 for a cup of coffee? That's highway robbery!
- The rent increase feels like highway robbery.
my way or the highway
1/mˈaɪ wˈeɪ ˈɔɹ ðə hˈaɪwˌeɪ/
idiom
informal
Accept terms or leave
You must do what I say or go away.
Examples
- It's my way or the highway when it comes to safety rules here.
- The boss has a 'my way or the highway' attitude.