ways

Ways is the plural of way, a term used to refer to paths, routes, or methods by which something can be done or achieved. The word can denote physical routes such as roads or footpaths, as well as abstract approaches, directions, or manners of doing things.

Etymology and usage: The word way derives from Old English weg, which is related to the German Weg and Dutch weg, all with senses connected to road, path, or course. In English, the sense extends from a literal route to metaphorical uses such as ways of thinking, ways of acting, and ways to approach a problem.

Contexts and meanings: In geography and transportation, a way may be a street, road, lane, or other means of travel; byways and by-ways are terms for smaller or lesser-traveled routes. In everyday language, ways describe methods or options, as in “There are many ways to solve this,” or “in many ways this resembles….” In philosophy and cognitive science, phrases such as “ways of knowing” categorize sources of knowledge, including perception, memory, reason, testimony, and intuition.

Notable uses: In Christian and theological traditions, the term appears in reference to The Five Ways, a set of cosmological arguments for the existence of God attributed to Thomas Aquinas. The plural form also appears in legal, historical, and cultural contexts to discuss multiple routes, approaches, or possibilities.

See also: byways, pathways, methods, and idioms related to approaches and routes.