lane

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableBritish

   A narrow road, especially in the countryside.

   Grammar: Often used with 'country' or 'narrow'.

   Patterns

   • a country lane
   • a narrow lane

   They live on a quiet lane in the village.

   The lane was too narrow for two cars to pass.

   We walked along a winding lane through the fields.

2. 2nouncountable

   A marked strip of a road for a single line of traffic.

   Grammar: Used for roads and highways.

   Patterns

   • the fast lane
   • the left lane
   • change lanes

   The car in the fast lane was speeding.

   Use the right lane to exit the highway.

   She changed lanes without signaling.

3. 3nouncountablesport

   A strip of a track or pool marked for one competitor.

   Grammar: Used in sports like running and swimming.

   Patterns

   • swim in lane 3
   • run in lane 4

   She swam in lane 3 and won the race.

   The runners took their places in their lanes.

   Each swimmer must stay in their own lane.

Word forms

Common combinations

bike lane

The city added a new bike lane on Main Street.

memory lane

Looking at old photos took us down memory lane.

lane closure

There is a lane closure on the highway due to construction.

fast lane

He always drives in the fast lane.

country lane

We drove along a beautiful country lane.

Synonyms and how they differ

path

A path is usually for walking and may be unpaved; a lane is a narrow road for vehicles.

alley

An alley is a narrow passage between buildings, often in a town; a lane can be a rural road or a traffic strip.

Commonly confused: lane or line?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “lane”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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