railway

noun

rail·​way ˈrāl-ˌwā How to pronounce railway (audio)
Synonyms of railwaynext
: railroad
especially : a railroad operating with light equipment or within a small area

Synonyms of railway

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Examples of railway in a Sentence

a system of railways that crisscrosses the whole nation
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.
The scale of the AI boom, the report showed, has dwarfed past bubbles, including the spread of railways and the internet. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 28 June 2026 The extreme heat could also impact air travel in Philadelphia and cause roads and railways to buckle. — Tammie Souza, CBS News, 28 June 2026 Russia routinely strikes Ukrainian civilians, schools, churches, apartments and homes, power grids that light and heat them, ports, railways, airfields, and defense industry. — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Onboard narration adds context by sharing stories from the Gold Rush era and highlighting the engineering achievements behind the railway. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for railway

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of railway was in 1681

Phrases Containing railway

Rhymes for railway

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Browse Nearby Words

rail-water
railway
railwayac
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Cite this Entry

“Railway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railway. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on railway

Nglish: Translation of railway for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about railway

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