Meaning & use
superhighways
Last updated
“superhighways” is a form of “superhighway”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountable
Very wide, fast roads with several lanes in each direction, built so large amounts of traffic can move quickly.
Grammar: Countable, so use a plural after numbers or quantifiers: two superhighways, many superhighways.
Patterns
- build a superhighway
- a network of superhighways
The new superhighways cut the journey between the two cities by an hour.
Trucks and cars streamed along the superhighways all night.
Plans for more superhighways were delayed by the cost.
nouncountablefigurative
The internet, or the main routes for sending large amounts of electronic information.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase the information superhighway; the plural is less common but possible.
Patterns
- the information superhighway
- travel the superhighways of data
In the 1990s people talked excitedly about the information superhighway.
Schools were promised a place on the digital superhighways of the future.
Word forms
| singular | superhighway |
|---|
Common combinations
- information superhighway
- The information superhighway changed how we shop and learn.
- build a superhighway
- The government plans to build a superhighway across the desert.
- a network of superhighways
- A network of superhighways links the major ports.
- digital superhighway
- Fast broadband is the digital superhighway of today.
Synonyms and how they differ
- freeway
- The usual American word for a large road; superhighway is grander and less common.
- motorway
- The usual British word; superhighway sounds more dramatic or old-fashioned.
- expressway
- A road for fast traffic, often in cities; superhighway suggests something even bigger.
Word family
- highway noun
- A main public road.
Commonly confused: superhighways or highway?
superhighways vs highway
A highway is any main road; a superhighway is a very large, fast one, or the internet.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'superhighways' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
'Superhighways' is a plural countable noun for large fast roads, so 'were closed' fits. Option C uses a plural with 'a', and D uses a plural with 'is'. An is odd because superhighways are not for walking dogs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “superhighways”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.