mile

noun

ˈmī(-ə)l

Synonyms of mile

: any of various units of distance: such as

: a unit equal to 5280 feet see Weights and Measures Table

: nautical mile

: a race of a mile

: a relatively great distance, degree, or interval

—usually plural

was miles ahead of them in education

—sometimes used adverbially

This one is miles [=much, far] better than that one.

Examples of mile in a Sentence

We passed mile after mile of beautiful scenery as we drove through the country. We traveled over miles of dirt road. The car was traveling at 70 miles per hour. We were miles from home. We still have miles to go. The beach stretched on for miles and miles.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Massachusetts and Idaho are about 2,000 miles apart -- literally and figuratively -- in America's gun debate. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026 Spindale is about a 70-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026 The city, located about 132 miles (212 kilometers) southwest of Portland, Oregon, has a population of about 10,000 people. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Geostationary satellites operate much farther away, roughly 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above the equator. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mile

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English mīl, from Latin milia miles, from milia passuum, literally, thousands of paces, from milia, plural of mille thousand

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of mile was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mile. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mile

noun

ˈmī(ə)l

: a unit of measure equal to 5280 feet (about 1609 meters)

called also statute mile

see measure

: nautical mile

mile

noun

Synonyms of mile

Examples of mile in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

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Kids Definition

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mile

noun

Synonyms of mile

Examples of mile in a Sentence

Word History

Phrases Containing mile

Rhymes for mile

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to mile

Obscure Units of Measurement Quiz

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on mile

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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